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777bae · 5 months ago

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FLUENT IN YOU WILLIAM EKLUND

Summary :: William starts teaching you Swedish phrases

Warnings :: none

Word count :: 4.7k

It all started as a seemingly casual moment—a quiet afternoon, the two of you lounging together after a morning practice. William had been chatting with his teammates, speaking to them in Swedish, and you found yourself listening more intently than usual. You’d always had a soft spot for languages—how each one had its own rhythm, its own flow—but Swedish? It was different. You’d never really considered it before, but as the conversation continued, you couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to understand it. The way the words flowed from William’s lips, smooth and melodic, almost felt like music. You’d never really thought about how beautiful Swedish sounded before.

Your curiosity got the best of you. You’d been quiet, listening for a while, but you finally spoke up, breaking the spell that the conversation had cast. “Hey, I’ve got to ask—what exactly are you saying?” you asked, not sure what had prompted you to speak, but the fascination had taken hold. “It sounds so different… What does it mean?”

William glanced over at you, his grin widening slightly. It was that signature smile of his—playful and mischievous, as if he knew exactly what was coming next. He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by your interest. “You want to know what we’re saying?” he asked, his voice teasing. “Well, I can tell you, but I have a better idea.”

You furrowed your brow, confused. “What do you mean?” you asked, raising an eyebrow in return.

Without missing a beat, William’s eyes sparkled with that characteristic mischievous glint. “Do you want me to teach you some Swedish?” he asked, the suggestion so sudden and effortless, it caught you off guard. “I promise, it’ll be fun. And I can teach you some useful phrases.”

You chuckled, still unsure of whether he was serious. “I don’t know if I’m ready for a whole new language,” you replied, shaking your head with a soft laugh. “Swedish sounds so complicated. I mean, I can barely handle English half the time.” You let out a small sigh, almost as if you were talking yourself out of it. The thought of trying to tackle a completely new language, especially one as intricate as Swedish, was intimidating.

William’s grin didn’t falter in the slightest. If anything, it widened, like he was savoring the challenge of convincing you. “It’s not complicated, I promise,” he said, his tone full of certainty, making it sound like the easiest thing in the world. “And I’ll make it easy for you. Don’t worry. I’m a good teacher. Think of it like learning a secret language, just for us.”

The words hung in the air for a moment, and despite your initial hesitations, there was something about his offer that intrigued you. It wasn’t just about learning Swedish—it was the way he said it, the twinkle in his eyes, the warmth in his voice. He made it sound like a game, something fun and lighthearted, a little adventure just for the two of you.

The idea of learning something new, especially with him by your side, felt appealing. Plus, the thought of sharing this private thing with him, something just between you and him, made it feel like an invitation to something deeper. You smiled, realizing you couldn’t resist the temptation.

“Alright,” you said, trying to sound more confident than you felt. “But don’t make fun of me when I mess up.”

William raised his hands in mock defense. “No promises there,” he teased, his grin turning even more mischievous. “But I’ll try to be nice.”

And that’s how you ended up here, sitting on his couch with a notebook in hand and a pen between your fingers, ready for your first lesson.

The afternoon sunlight poured through the window, casting a soft, golden glow over the room. The warmth of the light seemed to fill the space, adding to the quiet comfort of the moment. The living room felt peaceful, almost like a little bubble of calm in the midst of the day’s hustle. You sat on the couch, a notebook open on your lap, nervously clutching a pen, and tried to calm the fluttering in your chest.

Beside you, William seemed effortlessly at ease. His posture was relaxed, his legs stretched out, one arm resting casually along the back of the couch. The look on his face was one of someone who was completely comfortable in this setting, like a natural teacher with no hint of tension or hesitation. You, on the other hand, felt like a beginner in every sense of the word. The thought of speaking a new language, especially one you had never even considered before, made your nerves spike.

Still, you had agreed to this—you were here, ready to learn—and there was no one better than William to guide you through it. He had a way of making things feel effortless, even when you were still fumbling with the basics. You took a deep breath, reminding yourself that this was meant to be fun, that you were here with him and that you didn’t need to be perfect. You were ready to dive in.

“So,” William said, his voice pulling you from your thoughts, his tone light and warm. He reached for his phone, swiping through a few screens as he set it aside, clearly preparing for the lesson. “Let’s start with the basics. Something simple to begin with.”

You nodded, feeling a little more relaxed now that he was diving in, and you could focus on the task ahead instead of your racing thoughts. “Okay, I’m all ears,” you said, managing a small smile, trying to settle your nerves. “Hit me with it.”

He shifted slightly, facing you fully now, his eyes soft with amusement and that familiar playfulness that always made you feel at ease. “Alright, here’s where we start,” he said with a small smirk. “‘I love you.’”

You blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the unexpected phrase. The seriousness of it made your heart skip a beat. “Wait… what?” you asked, chuckling nervously, hoping to brush off the sudden rush of heat that rose to your cheeks. “We’re starting with ‘I love you’?”

William’s grin only grew wider, a playful gleam dancing in his eyes. It was the kind of grin that you knew all too well—one that promised both mischief and something deeper. “Why not?” he replied, his voice light but earnest. “It’s essential, don’t you think? And, I’ll teach you how to say it properly so you can tell me in my language.”

Your mouth parted in surprise, a laugh escaping you at how bold he was being. “You’re really starting with that, huh?” you said, trying to mask the blush creeping up your neck and into your cheeks, feeling both embarrassed and flattered by his words.

William didn’t miss a beat. He simply nodded, his expression softening slightly, though that mischievous smile never quite left. “Yep. You’ve got to know how to say it, especially if I’m going to teach you this secret language.” His tone became quieter, almost a little more serious. “You’ll want to know how to tell me.”

His words struck you in a way that you didn’t expect. Something about the way he said it, the warmth in his voice and the sincerity in his gaze, made the simple sentence carry far more weight than you’d anticipated. It wasn’t just a language lesson anymore—it was something personal, something shared. You felt a rush of warmth spread through you, and it wasn’t just from the sunlight streaming in through the window.

William cleared his throat and then spoke the phrase slowly, the words rolling off his tongue with ease. “Jag älskar dig,” he said gently, as if offering you a glimpse into something meaningful and intimate. He repeated it again, his voice soft but firm, emphasizing each syllable, letting the words linger between you. His eyes were fixed on you, watching your every reaction, as if he were both teaching and sharing something important at the same time.

You swallowed, focusing intently on his pronunciation, trying to absorb the foreign sounds and make them your own. “Yahg… ehl-skar deeg?” you said, stumbling slightly over the unfamiliar sounds, your voice a little unsure.

William didn’t laugh or make you feel embarrassed, though. Instead, his eyes softened with pride, and he offered a small nod of approval. “Close,” he said, his voice warm and patient. “You’ve got the right idea. Let’s try again, but slower this time.”

You took a deep breath, your heart still fluttering in your chest but feeling more determined now. You wanted to get it right, to do this properly, for him, for yourself. You repeated the words again, more slowly this time, focusing on the rhythm and the softness of the syllables. “Jag älskar dig.”

When you finished, you glanced up at William, your eyes meeting his. The pride in his expression made your heart swell. He was watching you so closely, his gaze soft yet filled with affection. “Perfect,” he exclaimed, his voice sincere, lighting up with warmth. “That’s it. You’re a natural.”

A laugh escaped you, the sound both relieved and a little awestruck. It wasn’t just that you’d gotten the pronunciation right—it was the way William had looked at you. His words weren’t just about the lesson. There was something in his eyes, a deeper meaning behind the praise, and it made the flutter in your chest return with a force that left you speechless. It was as if he was genuinely proud of you, not just for speaking a foreign language, but for being there with him, sharing this experience together. You couldn’t help but feel like you were learning more than just Swedish in that moment.

You gave him a small, shy smile. “I didn’t think I’d be saying ‘I love you’ so soon,” you teased, though the words felt strangely significant in your mouth, like they carried more weight than you expected.

William’s grin softened, his eyes locking with yours as he gave a small, almost intimate shrug. “I think you needed to learn it. You’ll use it one day, I’m sure of it,” he said, his tone quieter now, as if the moment was more than just about the words. There was something deeper there, a silent acknowledgment that this lesson was a bridge between the two of you—a connection built on shared words, shared meaning.

With the first phrase under your belt, William’s playful side began to surface. The atmosphere in the room shifted, and the lesson lightened. You no longer felt the pressure to be perfect with your pronunciation, and you both started to enjoy the learning process more. Each time you stumbled over a word, William would smile and encourage you, never making you feel self-conscious. Instead, his laughter would fill the room, and the entire lesson felt less like work and more like a fun game.

“Okay, now for something really important,” William said, a mischievous gleam lighting up his eyes as he leaned toward you, clearly about to spring something unexpected on you.

You raised an eyebrow, curious. “What’s that?”

William’s grin widened, if possible. “I’m going to teach you something every person should know.”

You chuckled, leaning back slightly, not sure if he was being serious. “What’s that?”

He gave you an exaggerated serious look before breaking into a grin. “It’s ‘My cat is wearing a crown.’”

You blinked, momentarily caught off guard. “Wait, what?” you asked, your voice filled with both confusion and amusement. “Are you serious?”

William’s grin only grew, and you could tell from the playful twinkle in his eyes that he was definitely messing with you. “Yes. This is a vital sentence,” he said, his voice dripping with mock seriousness. “You never know when you might need to tell someone your cat is wearing a crown.”

You stared at him for a moment, trying to figure out if he was truly serious or if this was just part of his playful charm. “You’re kidding, right?” you asked, laughing lightly at the absurdity of it all.

He shook his head with mock indignation, clearly delighted by your reaction. “Nope, not kidding. This is real knowledge. You have to be prepared for anything.” He raised an eyebrow in playful challenge. “Min katt har en krona.”

You stared at him, trying to process what he had just said. The phrase was entirely new to you, the sounds unfamiliar, and you didn’t immediately know how to translate it. William gave you a moment to digest the words, and when he saw your slightly confused expression, he added with a wink, “It means ‘My cat is wearing a crown.’”

You couldn’t stop yourself from laughing, your mind processing the absurdity of the phrase he was teaching you. “Wait… so that’s what we’re learning? Really?”

He shrugged nonchalantly. “Absolutely. It’s important to know. Imagine a situation where you need to tell someone that your cat is wearing a crown and you don’t know how. What then?”

You laughed again, shaking your head. “I’m not sure when this situation would ever come up, but okay. If you say so…”

“Try it,” he encouraged, clearly having far too much fun with this. “Say it, and you’ll be ready for anything.”

Still laughing, you focused on the phrase, trying to repeat it, though you were struggling to get the pronunciation right. You said, “Min katt har en… krona?”

It wasn’t perfect, but you gave it your best shot. The sounds felt strange on your tongue, and you could feel yourself stumbling over some of the unfamiliar words, but you didn’t mind. William’s face lit up when he heard it, and he burst into laughter, clearly delighted by your attempt.

“Perfect! That was great!” he said, clearly entertained by how seriously you’d tried to say it. “Now, you’re ready for anything.”

You laughed with him, shaking your head at the silliness of it all. “I’m glad I’m prepared to tell someone my cat is wearing a crown,” you said, still amused at how absurd the entire lesson was. “I feel so much more… equipped for life now.”

“Exactly!” William said, still chuckling. “You never know when it’ll come in handy, right?”

You both laughed together, the sound of it filling the room and making you feel more at ease than you had been when the lesson first started. The tension that had come with trying to master the new language had faded, replaced by a lightness, a sense of ease, as the lesson turned into a shared joke between the two of you. The whole thing felt so carefree—no pressure, no expectation, just the joy of being in this moment together, laughing and learning at the same time.

As the laughter settled down, you glanced up at William, your heart lighter than it had been all day. You realized that this wasn’t just about learning Swedish—it was about something deeper. The way he made the lesson feel personal, how he’d managed to turn an absurd sentence into a moment of connection, was more meaningful than you realized.

You smiled, looking at him with appreciation. “Thanks for the lesson. You definitely know how to make it fun,” you said, feeling genuinely happy with how things had gone.

William gave you a warm smile, his eyes softening with affection. “Anytime,” he said, his voice quieter now, filled with warmth. “I’ll always make sure you’re ready, no matter what.”

As the lesson went on, the initial nerves you had felt started to melt away completely. William’s presence beside you was steady and reassuring, his focus entirely on you. There was something incredibly calming about the way he interacted with you—no rush, no judgment, just the quiet encouragement of someone who genuinely wanted you to succeed. Each phrase you learned, each new word you mastered, felt like a small victory, and with every accomplishment, you felt more connected to the language and, surprisingly, to William himself.

The words were still unfamiliar on your tongue, the sounds sometimes difficult to wrap your mouth around, but every time you stumbled, William was there with a smile and a gentle correction. He never made you feel self-conscious about your mistakes. Instead, he made each misstep feel like a part of the learning process, something to laugh about together rather than a failure. His encouragement felt like a soft anchor in the sea of newness, and with every word you said, you felt more at home in his presence.

But then, just as you were beginning to settle into the rhythm of the lesson, something shifted. William’s tone, which had been light and playful, softened. His usual teasing smile faded into something more sincere, more intimate. His eyes, which had always been warm and inviting, became even more focused, and there was a quiet intensity behind his gaze that made you pause. You looked up at him, suddenly aware of how close you both were on the couch, the space between you feeling smaller than before.

“You’re doing great,” he said, his voice quieter now. There was a tenderness in his words that you hadn’t noticed before. His eyes locked with yours, and you felt a flutter in your chest, something deeper than the simple joy of learning. “Now, let me teach you something I really want you to know.”

Your heart skipped a beat at the seriousness in his tone. You couldn’t tell whether he was still talking about the lesson or if there was something more in the words he was about to say. It felt like this was no longer just about Swedish—there was something unspoken, something in the air between you that made everything feel different.

You looked up at him, your voice soft as you asked, “What is it?”

He paused, as if carefully considering his next words. When he spoke again, his voice was even more gentle, almost like he was sharing a secret with you, something that mattered deeply. “It’s Du gör mig lycklig,” he said, the words rolling off his tongue in a way that felt intimate, personal. His eyes softened, and the intensity in them grew, making your pulse quicken. “It means ‘You make me happy.’”

You repeated the phrase after him, your voice faltering slightly as you tried to absorb the new sounds. “Du gör mig lycklig.” The words felt heavy on your tongue, but they were beautiful in their simplicity. And as you said them, something about their meaning sank deeper into your chest—more than just the translation, more than the language itself. The weight of the phrase, the truth in it, settled in the quiet space between you.

William’s smile returned, but it was different this time. It wasn’t playful or teasing—it was something warmer, more tender, as if he was allowing you to see a side of him that was rarely exposed. He nodded at you in approval, his eyes full of affection. “Perfect,” he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. “You make me happy too, you know?”

Your breath caught in your throat as you met his gaze, the sincerity in his words hitting you harder than you expected. The phrase—Du gör mig lycklig—suddenly felt like more than just words. It felt like a declaration, a shared moment of truth between you two. It wasn’t just about learning Swedish; it was about the way William was making you feel. It was about the way his words reached you, deeper than you had expected, and how they seemed to confirm something you hadn’t fully realized until now: that he truly cared about you, not just as a student, but as something more.

You looked into his eyes, the words carrying more weight than just the language itself. It wasn’t just about learning Swedish—it was about the way he was making you feel.

The lesson continued, but it was clear that something had shifted in the air between you. The words you were learning, the phrases you were repeating, had begun to feel more significant, more personal. As William guided you through each new phrase, there was an unspoken understanding building between the two of you. It wasn’t just about the language anymore—it was about something deeper, something more intimate. With every word, you found yourself drawn closer to him, and each time he smiled at you, each encouraging glance, made your heart beat just a little faster.

The afternoon light cast a warm glow over the room, the soft golden beams drifting through the windows, wrapping around you both in a quiet embrace. The room felt still, the world outside fading away as you focused entirely on William and the lesson that had taken on a new depth. You felt his presence next to you more than ever—the way he was so attuned to you, how his every word seemed to draw you closer. The distance between you, both physically and emotionally, seemed to shrink with each passing minute.

William’s voice softened, no longer the lighthearted tone of a teacher, but something deeper, more meaningful. He moved just a little closer, his eyes locking with yours, and there was something in his gaze that made your heart skip a beat. You weren’t sure what it was, but you could feel the change, the moment that you both seemed to cross a line into something more.

“I think you’re ready for the final lesson,” he said, his voice barely more than a whisper, as though the words were meant just for you. The air between you both seemed to thicken, the tension building in a way that had nothing to do with the language itself. “This one is very important.”

Your breath hitched at the softness in his tone, the warmth in his eyes making your chest tighten. You couldn’t help the way your heart began to race a little faster, the quiet anticipation settling in your veins. “What’s that?” you asked, your voice trembling slightly, though you tried to keep it steady.

William’s lips curled into a smile, one that seemed to carry all the warmth and affection he had for you. Slowly, he leaned in just a fraction closer, his voice lowering even more as he spoke the words. “It’s Jag är så glad att du är här med mig,” he said gently, his words lingering in the air, their meaning settling over you like a soft blanket. “It means, ‘I’m so happy you’re here with me.’”

You repeated the phrase after him, the words feeling both foreign and incredibly meaningful. “Jag är så glad att du är här med mig.” The words felt like a promise, like something more than just a translation. As you said them, you felt them resonate deeply within you, a quiet acknowledgment of how much this moment, this connection, meant to you.

William’s eyes softened as he listened to you, the smile on his face turning tender. He nodded slowly, his pride clear in the way he looked at you. “You’re really getting it now,” he said, his voice thick with meaning, as though the words carried more weight than they ever had before.

You could feel William’s gaze on you, and for a moment, everything else in the room seemed to vanish—there was nothing but him, his eyes locked onto yours with a softness that made your heart skip a beat. The world around you blurred, the faint hum of the room fading into nothingness as the space between you seemed to shrink. The warmth of the sunlight still filled the room, but it felt like it had settled around you both, enveloping you in a cocoon of quiet intimacy.

William’s eyes softened as he looked at you, a hint of something deeper in them that made your breath catch. He reached out slowly, as if the very act was deliberate, as if he was savoring the moment. His hand, warm and steady, gently cupped your cheek, the touch light but firm, grounding you in the present. His thumb brushed softly against your skin, and it was as though the whole world had stopped moving. Every other thought, every lingering doubt, disappeared in the wake of his touch. His hand on your cheek felt like an unspoken invitation, a promise without words—inviting you closer, drawing you into a space where the world beyond didn’t matter.

Your heart hammered in your chest, each beat thudding louder as you held his gaze, unable to tear your eyes away. It felt like an electric charge in the air, a current of something that you both couldn’t deny. The closeness between you seemed to grow with every breath, the space between you becoming smaller and smaller, and it was impossible to ignore the heat that flared between you. Every inch of your body seemed to lean into him, drawn in by the quiet force of his presence.

“Jag är så glad att du är här med mig,” William whispered, his voice lower now, soft like velvet, a careful, deliberate sweetness in the way the words left his lips. The phrase, one you had just learned, felt even more powerful in that moment as he repeated it, the quiet intensity in his voice carrying a depth that took you by surprise. You could feel the sincerity behind the words, the warmth of them, as they seemed to hang in the air between you.

Your breath caught in your throat, your pulse quickening. He leaned in closer, and everything inside you felt like it was suspended in time—your heart, your breath, the very air itself. You could feel his breath mingling with yours, soft and warm, each inhale and exhale blending together as the distance between you vanished entirely. It was as though your bodies were pulling toward one another, as if you were being drawn into a magnetic pull, an unspoken understanding that this was where you were meant to be.

And then, the moment stretched out, just a fraction longer before he closed the distance, his lips brushing gently against yours. The kiss was slow, soft—a tender exploration that felt more like a conversation than a gesture. His lips were warm, almost impossibly soft against yours, as though he was savoring the moment as much as you were. The kiss wasn’t rushed, there was no urgency—just the quiet, intimate connection between the two of you, full of meaning and unspoken words.

Each second of the kiss felt like it held everything—the lessons, the laughter, the connection you had been building over time. It was as though this kiss was the culmination of everything that had come before it, all of those little moments of vulnerability, those shared smiles and glances, now woven together into something undeniable. His lips were so gentle against yours, the sweetness of the kiss lingering even after he pulled away just slightly, his forehead resting gently against yours.

For a long, breathless moment, you stayed like that—close, your foreheads touching, your hearts still racing in time with one another. The softness of his breath brushed against your skin, and the space between you both was filled with a quiet intimacy that made everything else feel distant, unimportant. There was only him, only this moment, and it felt like everything in the world had led you to this.

When he finally pulled back just a fraction, his eyes fluttering open and meeting yours, you were both breathing softly, as if the world had slowed down to a gentle pace. You couldn’t find the words at first. Your chest felt tight, your heart still beating faster than normal, and everything in you was full of warmth—of something more than just the kiss, more than the lesson. It was something that lingered in the space between you, something that felt unspoken yet understood completely.

“I’m so glad you’re here with me, too,” you whispered, your voice thick with emotion, and it felt like the words had been there, waiting to be said. You realized then that it wasn’t just about the Swedish phrase anymore—it was about the truth you had found in each other, the connection that had deepened without either of you needing to say anything more.

William smiled, his eyes warm and full of affection as he met your gaze. He didn’t need to say anything more, but the way his fingers brushed against your cheek, the way he pulled you just a little closer, spoke volumes. “Always,” he said softly, his voice rich with meaning. “You’re always welcome here, älskling (darling). Always.”

#nhl #nhl imagine #nhl fic #nhl x reader #william eklund #william eklund x reader #william eklund imagine #william eklund x you #san jose sharks #san jose sharks imagine #we72 #fluff #nhl x you #san jose sharks x reader #sj sharks #we72 imagine #we72 x reader #we72 x you #777bae

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random-non-shower-thoughts · 5 months ago

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Write with your heart, edit with your inner critic and ears

My last two post have been more from the heart, but I think more people need actual editing advice like I have talked about in a previous thought post. Like I said there, plenty of teachers and professors have no issues talking about writing and formulating and drafting works. I only know of one professor over all my years of writing that I can recall with 99% certainty that taught us useful tips for editing.

And I will say that like writing, there's no one size fits all, because nobody writes the same as anyone else--or even themselves as they hone and improve their skills. A lot should be based on what vibe you want to create and what is needed for the work/chapter/draft you are focusing on.

But if nothing else, there's three things you want to focus on:

Spelling and punctuation as fitting for the message you want to convey

Formatting to make it readable and to improve the message

And most importantly: READING THE WORK ALOUD BEFORE PUBLISHING

The last one is what I don't see talked about enough, and was reminded by a community post recommended for me (I will never follow them, they're impossible to share and most seem like a waste of time), so I decided to expand on it in a more shareable format.

(Note: I believe that doing this with your own voice or text to speech are equally helpful. Sometimes you want to go at your own pace and use voices. Maybe you have to have another voice to notice things. Both work to reach the same goal of polishing your writing!)

I am going start by saying that there's times when you can tell a piece could have used an extra pass by how it reads. There's often weird turn of phrases and spelling that is not obtrusive but makes you pause (and I will be the first to say I want readers to tell me if they catch these for whatever reason, even the less error prone machine still lets flecks of misspellings and pebbles of forgotten commas). The missing period that makes two sentences become a long run-on sentence that technically makes sense.

The editing is on the surface sufficient, but missing a last pass that could buff out a final draft and have you read it later when more experienced with pride. And without asking why you forgot something so obvious, or why you worded it that way. (I love looking at outstanding line from old works, I often laugh at how even my spicy stuff can have a raw scene outside of the bedroom).

One of the best ways I found, after formatting and spellchecking and double-checking the right words are used, is to give it a final read out loud! Yes, I can understand that you might ask why it has to be out loud when you already went over it so many times, and the editing software and you not say it's fine. And that's exactly why. Things that a computer might say is good might not be the right wording for the story. You might have changed something to get the sentence to make sense but it ruined the actual mood, or you added something that is out of character. An extra adjective you thought worked didn't actually fit and you forgot to hit delete. There's so many times I have changed something because I wasn't satisfied with the flow and just didn't backspace enough during a much earlier draft and it slipped through till the final pass while I read it aloud.

Or--and this is a big one for me--reading it out loud made me realize that it won't work at all. Not due to anything technical or because the section makes no sense. Just something about having it spoken out loud awakens my inner critic to an issue I didn't notice until now. A whole paragraph might finally show it can be cut and make a transition easier. A sentence might be deleted because it was more distracting fluff and I see it should be deleted (no matter how nice it worked in my head). Or if not gone, it was in the wrong spot. Now I have to read it out loud, word by word, I can paste a section in a better place and change the whole flow.

I've seen people talk about how they use text to speech to see if something goes on for too long and know when to stop by how it starts to distort it's voice to keep going. You can do the same too.

By reading aloud, you'll at last understand the readers' plight of flowery purple prose by struggling to catch your breath. Suffer while the TTS malfunctions from you using too many adjectives about the MC in the mirror. See if maybe you can change that comma or em dash into a period or semicolon. Play with different voices and see if that fanfic about your favorite character sounds OOC or you are really that good at getting inside their head. See how the words fit as you get a fresh perspective, watching them fall into place like puzzle pieces while observing how each flows like a poetic melody.

It is all experience for when you write that next chapter or work. Sure, it's not as intense as typing it all out, but it's not like you're not learning from it. Editing is writing too; what you master here can translate to better writing next time, and a cleaner first draft in the future. (Like I've said before, you'll never have a perfect first draft, but you can write a clean first draft to make it easier for yourself.)

Just remember, writing is supposed to be as good as you are today, and never a suffering contest. Not every aspect of it will be exciting but do not force yourself to make it more difficult than you can handle. If I am miserable, I am not creative, and this is true for so many; and if anyone tells you that makes someone a fake/poser/imposter, ignore them. If they like being sad to write a depressed and angsty character, that is their method alone. Editing does not have to be a slog, but it should be something you put effort in to so the final product is something you are proud of.

Listen to the fun writing voice when you are outlining and writing, and unleash the inner critic when you edit. Both are there for a reason.

#writing #writeblr #writers on tumblr #writerscommunity #creative writing #writing advice #writing tips #editing tips #inner critic #The inner critic is good for editing #Do not trust the inner critic for writing #It wants to twist words not play like your writing brain

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quartz420 · 2 years ago

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Fallin' for ya

Geto Suguru x reader

Synopsis: Suguru and reader heavily pine for eachother, that's basically it ☆ Reader has no gender, fluff, pining, everyone kind of playing matchmaker ☆ Words: 1241 ☆ Note: Just felt like writing a short pining fic for him, like i need to this guy happy that's all

“And that is why digimon is better than Pokémon.” Gojo exclaimed. His hands waving in an exaggerated manner, Shoko sighed while exhaling some smoke. “Satoru, that’s gotta be the worst take you’ve ever had, everyone knows Pokémon is way better. Digimon is just a rip off.” The duo continued arguing. Geto, on the other hand, gazed into the distance; his mind preoccupied by other thoughts. He hadn’t been listening to the conversation for a while now and his friends quickly took notice of that.

“So what is it you’re thinking about instead of proving Shoko wrong?” the white haired teenager question. “Don’t tell me, is it the first year?” Shoko soon joined in. “It probably is, he’s got it bad for them.”

Geto groaned loudly, leaning more into the wall behind him. “Trust me, I really don’t.” His hand started fiddling with the flip phone in his pocket; the two glanced at each other and snickered. The girl began: “Sure, we totally believe you. Because you totally don’t stare when they pass by.” Gojo added: “And you absolutely do not release some curses, simply because they find it cute.” Geto lifted his hand and flipped them off, his eyes avoiding any type of glance. Sure he may or may not have done a few of these things, but that didn’t mean anything. Right?

“You guys can keep being dumbasses, I’m going to the vend-”, his phrase was interrupted when he saw you walking with Nanami and Haibara. He watched as you carelessly buzzed your way through whatever story you were telling, you hair bouncing with every step you took. Your laughter filled his ears in a weirdly pleasant way. “See, there he does it again. He’s staring Shoko.” Gojo interrupted his train of thought. “Shut up, I’m not staring.”

“Bro we literally saw you!”

“Hey Suguru!” The black haired male felt his heart almost plunge out his throat as he recognized your voice. You were steadily approaching while dragging an unwilling Nanami along with you, he felt himself almost grip at his jacket. Gojo snorted while tapping him on the shoulder: “Good luck, don’t try to die over here.” Geto never wanted to slap him so bad in his entire life.

“Hey guys, how was the mission?” you asked. Your fingers twiddling with your uniform, the two other boys followed soon after. Gojo countered: “Nothing the strongest can’t handle, right Suguru?” Geto nodded his head silently, not even trying to speak. His eyes were heavily avoiding yours, as if he was scared to even look at them. “Oh yeah, I just remember something.” Your hand went into your pocket, pulling out a pink flyer. “There’s this new bakery around the corner, apparently they have the best apple tarts.”

Haibara joyfully added: “Yeah, didn’t you want to ask Geto to come with you?”

“Haibara! C’mon man, he wasn’t supposed to know!” You softly yelled, hitting your oblivious friend’s shoulder. You felt a wave of embarrassment flow through you, fingers slowly grabbing the flyer a bit harder. Geto wasn’t sure if he heard it right, he didn’t even have the time to ask before his rowdy friend interjected. “That is perfect because he just felt like asking you too, isn’t that a coincidence?” Gojo obnoxiously swung his arm around him, his slender fingers poking his cheek. Geto didn’t even think about asking you, in fact, he did not know the bakery at all. “That is perfect then.” You softly giggled.

He couldn’t take it anymore. Your smile, the way you talked, the small charms on your blue backpack; he suddenly was aware of every single detail about you. He hated the feeling of nervousness when he was in your presence more than swallowing curses, he didn’t even understand why. Was he sick? Maybe he disliked you?

No, that wasn’t it. He never felt the need to get closer to anyone he disliked, so why did you have this effect on him?

“I’m going to get a drink at the vending machines.” Geto stated, lifting himself of the wall. He quickly turned his way to the machines and tried to rapidly march towards them. While he walked away, Nanami didn’t miss the way your shoulders slightly drooped. You continued fiddling with the paper, as you felt too nervous to go after him without a reason. The blonde shook his head slightly, taking out some coins and handing them to you. “Could you get a drink for Yu, he’s thirsty.” Haibara let out a sound of confusion: “But I’m not, I got my water right-”

“Yes you are.” He gave him a look and leaned his head towards Geto, the brunette quickly caught on. “Oh yeah, you’re right. I did want some strawberry milk” You whispered a quiet thank you, as you excitedly ran after the after mentioned boy. Your cheeks hurt from how widely you were smiling, but you suddenly felt apprehensive. What if he didn’t want you there? Maybe that’s why he left. You looked back at your friends with a nervous look in your eyes, but they sent you a thumb up. Encouraging you to move forward.

Geto stood there, inserting coins into the machine. His action was disrupted as he noticed you approaching, and he suddenly felt nervous; wondering if his hair looking fine, maybe he should’ve combed it more this morning. “Finally caught up to you.” You happily exclaimed. “What are you so fast for?” Your joke went right over his ears, as your face caught his attention. Since when did you look so pretty?

“Becomes a habit after running a lap every day, that idiot Satoru has me running everywhere.” He faintly smiled. His drink made a loud crashing sound as it fell to the bottom; he crouched to grab it and then stood back up. In that time, you already caught your breath; you nervously searched for something in your bag. “I saw a store with sweets when we came back.” You still continued looking, after a while, you pulled out a green packet. “Saw this and thought you might like it, they’re apple candies. Since your technique can be quite unsavory at times, these may come in handy.” Your cheeks only grew hotter as u handed him the treats, your hands slightly trembling.

The boy was speechless. You brought him candy for the aftermath of eating curses, nobody really thought about that before. He gently took the candies into his hands, the cartoon apple on the packaging staring him back. He glimpsed back at your form, you face holding a sheepish smile; it hit him that he hadn’t thanked you yet. “Thank you…it’s very nice of you.” His stomach filled with butterflies, he suddenly couldn’t look at you in the face; as he felt his own being engulfed by an unfamiliar heat. The blaring noise of a bell cut the moment short.

“I should head to class; I really can’t be late this time.” You turned your back as you prepared to head back; you turn to him for a last time and flash him a sweet smile. “I’ll see you at 5 pm, we’re going to the bakery.” He watched as a quickly headed back to your friends, while his own return to his side. “So, the bakery huh?” Shoko teases but he didn’t ever acknowledge her, the butterflies didn’t go away. But he didn’t mind.

Maybe feeling this way wasn’t so bad after all.

#jujutsu kaisen #jjk x reader #jjk geto #geto x reader #geto suguru #quartz_writes

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aimless-pilgrims-silva-rerum · 2 years ago

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https://www.monumentvalleygame.com/mvpc

Ostatnio udało mi się wyrwać z takiej ciągłego rytmu, który nie obfituje w wydarzenia. Nie chcę ukrywać, że takie letargiczne egzystowanie jest czasem bardzo dobijające. Wczoraj jednak napisałem notatkę związaną z nową płytą mojego ulubionego zespołu, tak dziś zrecenzowałem na Steamie „Monument Valley”. Skończyłem ją w prawie trzy godziny, a jest to prosta gra logiczna wydana najpierw na urządzenia mobilne. Jednak z uroczą muzyką i stylem graficznym. Poniżej zamieszczę kopię tej recenzji, bo na platformie zapewne nikt jej nie zobaczy zakopanej pośród tysiąca innych. Jest po angielsku, ale to chyba nie będzie problemem:

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"This was the valley of men. / Now all that remains are our monuments, stripped of their glories. / Thieving princess, why have you returned?" - The Storyteller

tl;dr

Monument Valley is very simple logic games that operate on the premise of impossible figures and optical illusions, referred inside as „sacred geometry”. Levels designed with M. C. Escher’s spirit aren’t challenging, but very esthetically engaging. This could be one of the best tittles in the genre on the mobile, I don’t know that market nor platform, but Steam surely has better options for the mind-bending puzzles. Despite this, I have enjoyed each one of the 18 levels. That two-hour journey was a change of pace from my typical experience, consisting of brutally hard arcade-ish platformers. If you have a spare money, and aren’t discouraged by length, it is quite a nice title to go through on the one sitting. Probably even better to buy it with a sequel in the bundle, but I cannot say anything of that, as I haven’t played it.

Art

This is the strongest site of the title. I can almost sure that developer saw Escher’s „Relativity” or „Waterfall” on the internet or some art gallery and thought „I want that to be a game”. And here we are with a mobile hit from 2014 released for Windows in 2022. One of the puzzles is even placed on the waterfall from this Dutch painter. The optical illusions are quite interesting to be seen incorporated into a logic riddle, but here are used occasionally. Nevertheless, the vistas are quite memorable and well-designed, emitting this oneiric and surreal vibes. Although everything is still geometrical and sharp. Funny, how much can be done only by setting and color. As for the music it is also slowly flowing adding to that atmosphere. The closest I can describe soundtrack are the phrases „vaporware ambient” and „zen meditation mix”. Each section of the game is evoking different emotion, which is quite a nice touch.

Gameplay

Frankly, not the best. Even that visuals and climate are quite engaging, the levels aren't quite challenging. I have only stumbled for a while only at two moments, and my mind is not at the first freshness. For a logic game, you can demand more than only clicking the tiles. I understand though, that this is a port of a mobile game, so the bar is quite lower. It is still a great introduction for people who have the false idea that the genre is for the PhD-holders. Additionally, as I wrote in the section before, it is nice zen time in the accelerating world. Moreover, the original platform for this game reveals itself in the clunky controls, when you need to push some blocks, or rotate some elements.

Overall

I recall the years, quite a long time ago, when the flash games were at their prime. I was particularly interested in the „puzzle” section of the website. This is a nice nostalgic trip to the times as Monument Valley was released in 2014, at the mentioned heyday of small independent interactive creations. Although, the length/price ratio is not the best, it can be a nice form of slowing the tempo for one day. Unique art style, ambient melodies, and simple but engaging level design can make a night a little more cozy.

7/10 ~Adiabat 17.10.2023

#video games #steam #monument valley #recenzja

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innocentlynimblesolitude · 6 days ago

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The Future of Visibility: Why Modern Brands Need Smarter Digital Strategies

In in currently’s AI-fashioned virtual ambiance, establishments are usually not just competing for clicks. They are competing to be the primary, splendid, and such a lot suited choice. Search is evolving unexpectedly. Users expect speedy, clear responses regardless of whether or no longer they are typing questions, speaking to voice assistants, or taking part with AI summaries. The procedures providing those solutions now prioritize content it really is hooked up, invaluable, and contextually sizeable. To preclude up, brands will have got to evolve their electronic presence. It all starts off with smarter digital advertising. A Smarter Digital Presence Starts Here Being chanced on on-line is not very approximately certainly having a web site. It requires aligning all digital channels from paid media to biological seek and prior around a unmarried target: measurable boom. This is wherein a present digital marketing organization will become awesome. With the quality balance of technique, facts, and ingenious execution, your model can stand out in search, social feeds, and AI-driven suggestions. Whether you are getting better your online visibility, creation authority thru seo, or integrating a purchaser-friendly webpage online collectively with your advertising and advertising manner, reliable fortune is depending on consistency and precision all through each and every channel. Search Behavior is Changing. Is Your Brand Ready? Modern purchasers expect content that recommendations questions basically and at this time. To continue to be imperative, your content material need to be written with intent, arranged for scanning, and in a position to be without trouble interpreted by using each prospects and good classes. This potential: Creating content subject matter that solutions precise questions, now not simply involves key phrases Structuring pages with smooth takeaways and logical pick the go with the flow Building executed, depend-centered pages for every single and every core provider Earning high-quality oneway hyperlinks and references from relied on sites The key will not at all be to trick algorithms but to align with how people in fact searching for and the method engines like google interpret authority and relevance. What Services Support This Evolution? High-acting corporations paintings with partners that understand modern-day search ecosystems. This entails: Performance merchandising vendors that automatically adapt to advertising crusade info Creative firms that escalate content textile with every single human beings and algorithms https://foresightfox.com/ in mind Web enchancment organizations that assure your online page on-line is rapid, reachable, and crawlable Social media retailers who broaden network when reinforcing version concern issues Optimization professionals who construct inner design and semantic clarity If you are running with a comprehensive-service digital company, it is able to favor to have the instruments and tricks to evolve alongside search technology. From Presence to Performance Search structures at once advantages popular, trusted entities. That skills your cyber web content material drapery, web publication articles, paid commercials, or even off-net website mentions need to make stronger your authority and emblem id. It isn't always very roughly publishing added. It is about publishing enhanced. Your content have bought to serve the two your target market’s wants and tools-clarity must haves. When that steadiness is comp

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transcuratorsblog · 19 days ago

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Email Copy vs. Blog Copy: Where Writers Get It Wrong

Content writing is not a one-size-fits-all practice. Yet, many writers make the mistake of treating email copy and blog copy as if they follow the same rules. They don’t.

Writing an email that converts is completely different from writing a blog that informs. Both serve a purpose in content strategy—whether you're selling software, subscriptions, or even pay per click services—but confusing their formats can hurt engagement, open rates, and SEO performance.

Here’s a breakdown of the key differences between the two formats—and the most common mistakes writers make when they blur the lines.

1. Mistaking Tone for Length

Mistake: Writers often assume that emails must be short and blogs must be long. While generally true, this oversimplification leads to:

Emails that lack context

Blogs that are stuffed with fluff to meet word count

Reality:

Emails should be concise but complete—delivering value and a CTA quickly.

Blogs can vary in length based on topic depth and reader intent.

The fix? Understand the goal first. Email = action. Blog = education.

2. Using Blog-Style Hooks in Emails

Mistake: Writers open emails with vague intros, storytelling, or a slow build-up—just like they would in a blog.

Example:

“Have you ever wondered why some marketers succeed while others fail?”

In email, this gets skipped. Inbox readers want clarity and relevance immediately.

Better approach for email:

“Get 25% more conversions from your next ad campaign. Here’s how.”

With blogs, readers expect a setup. With email, they need the benefit up front.

3. Ignoring CTAs in Blog Posts

Mistake: Writers treat blog posts as pure information and forget to guide the reader to the next step.

A blog is not just for SEO—it’s a conversion path. Whether that’s to download a resource, schedule a demo, or explore pay per click services, the call-to-action matters.

Solution:

Add mid-post and end-post CTAs

Use inline links that match the content flow

Avoid hard sales copy, but don’t miss the opportunity

Blogs should educate—but always lead somewhere.

4. Overformatting Emails Like Blog Articles

Mistake: Treating emails like a landing page or blog post—with long paragraphs, multiple headers, and dense formatting.

This leads to:

Poor mobile readability

Higher bounce and delete rates

Confused readers who never scroll down

Email best practices:

Use short, skimmable sentences

Write in a tone that sounds 1:1 and human

Avoid walls of text—white space is your friend

Think of email as a conversation, not a lecture.

5. Using the Wrong Voice

Mistake: Blog copy often uses a semi-formal, educational voice. Writers carry this over to emails, which makes them feel robotic or generic.

Email needs intimacy. Especially in B2B, emails should feel like they’re from a real person.

✅ For emails:

Use “you” and “we” more frequently

Ask questions

Use contractions and natural phrasing

✅ For blogs:

Focus on clarity and authority

Cite data, structure information, and be keyword-aware

Different formats, different expectations.

6. Failing to Test Email Copy at All

Mistake: Writers rarely A/B test email subject lines or body variations the way blog headlines or SEO titles are analyzed.

This leads to:

Stagnant open and click rates

Missed opportunities to boost engagement

What to test in emails:

Subject line phrasing

Button vs. link CTA

Personalization vs. generic copy

Your email is a campaign, not just a message—treat it like one.

7. Skipping SEO in Blogs, Overusing It in Emails

Mistake: Writers either ignore SEO basics in blog posts or awkwardly try to “optimize” emails for search engines (which are rarely indexed).

Fix:

Keep SEO strictly for blogs and landing pages

Focus email optimization on deliverability and open rate triggers (like personalization, preview text, and relevance)

Trying to rank an email is like trying to drive a boat on a highway—it’s the wrong vehicle.

Conclusion: Know the Format, Respect the Reader

Email copy and blog copy may live under the same content strategy umbrella, but they serve different functions. Confusing them dilutes both.

A blog educates, builds authority, and supports long-term SEO. An email engages, personalizes, and triggers immediate action. Each demands its own approach in structure, tone, and goals.

So whether you’re promoting a new feature, sharing industry insights, or selling pay per click services, make sure your content is designed for its format. Mastering that distinction is what turns readers into leads—and leads into customers.

#pay per click

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angeledunextdigital · 3 months ago

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IELTS Writing: Important Tips To Get You Extra Points!

The IELTS Writing section is often seen as one of the most challenging parts of the test. If you're aiming for a higher score, the right preparation makes all the difference. Whether you're preparing on your own or planning to study IELTS in Ahmedabad, it helps to follow a smart strategy. Many students look for support through IELTS Ahmedabad coaching, but even with self-study, using the right techniques can lead to big improvements. With focused practice and a clear understanding of what’s expected, you can approach the exam with more confidence and perform your best.

Understand the Task Requirements

The IELTS Writing test includes two parts:

Task 1 (Academic): Describe a graph, chart, table, or process.

Task 1 (General Training): Write a formal or informal letter.

Task 2 (Both versions): Write an essay giving your opinion, presenting a solution, or explaining an argument.

Tip: Always make sure you understand exactly what the question is asking. Answer all parts of the task clearly. If any part is left out or misunderstood, it can lower your Task Achievement score.

Plan Before You Write

Even if you feel pressed for time, don’t skip the planning stage. Spending a few minutes to outline your ideas will help keep your writing organized and focused.

Tip: Use 3–5 minutes to map out your response. For essays, plan your introduction, two main points with examples, and conclusion. For Task 1, note down the key features or trends you’ll include. Planning saves time and improves clarity.

Use a Clear Structure

A well-organized response helps the examiner follow your ideas easily. Make sure your writing has a logical flow.

For Task 2 (Essay):

Introduction

Body Paragraph 1

Body Paragraph 2

Conclusion

For Task 1:

Introduction (Paraphrase the question)

Overview (Summarize the key features or trends)

Details (Include specific information and data)

Tip: Use linking words like however, for instance, in contrast, and moreover to connect ideas and improve flow.

Mind Your Vocabulary and Grammar

A strong vocabulary and good grammar are important, but don’t try to overcomplicate your writing. Accuracy matters more than using fancy words incorrectly.

Tip:

Don’t repeat the same words too often.

Stick to formal, neutral language—avoid slang.

Be careful with tenses, articles, and subject-verb agreement.

Don’t Write Too Little or Too Much

Meeting the word count is important:

Task 1: Minimum 150 words

Task 2: Minimum 250 words

Tip: Aim for 170–180 words in Task 1 and 260–280 words in Task 2. Writing too little can lower your score, while writing too much may increase errors.

Avoid Common Mistakes

It’s easy to lose marks by making small but common errors. Watch out for:

Missing part of the question

Writing off-topic

Using memorized phrases

Repeating ideas without adding depth

Not leaving time to check your writing

Tip: Always save 3–5 minutes at the end to review your answer. Check grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

Practice with Real Feedback

Writing regularly helps, but feedback is what really helps you improve. Seeing where you’re going wrong lets you correct and grow.

Tip: If possible, have someone review your writing or compare it with high-scoring sample answers. Understanding your mistakes is key to making progress.

Study IELTS in Ahmedabad for the Best Preparation

If you plan to study IELTS in Ahmedabad, take advantage of the resources around you. Practice tests, writing exercises, and daily writing habits can all help you build the skills you need. The more comfortable you become with the format, the better you'll perform on test day.

Conclusion

Scoring well in the IELTS Writing section comes down to preparation and practice. Understanding the task, structuring your response clearly, avoiding common mistakes, and improving your grammar and vocabulary are all important steps. Whether you're studying on your own or getting support through IELTS Ahmedabad coaching, staying consistent and focused will take you closer to your target band score.

FAQs

1. What is the most important thing in IELTS Writing? Answering the question completely, using a clear structure, and writing with correct grammar and vocabulary are essential.

2. How can I improve my IELTS Writing score quickly? Write regularly under exam conditions, focus on your weak areas, and get feedback whenever possible.

3. Is handwriting important in the IELTS Writing test? Yes. Your writing must be easy to read. If the examiner can’t read it, your score may be affected.

4. How often should I practice IELTS Writing before the exam? Try practicing 3–4 tasks each week, including both Task 1 and Task 2. Review your work and make improvements.

5. What band score do I need for IELTS Writing to study abroad? Most universities require a score between 6.0 and 7.0. Be sure to check the exact requirements for your chosen program.

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maigamal · 3 months ago

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Understanding Madd Aarid and Its Importance in Tajweed

One of the essential aspects of proper Quranic recitation is mastering the rules of elongation, known as madd. Among these rules, madd aarid plays a significant role, particularly when reciting verses that end with a sukoon due to stopping (waqf). Understanding how to apply this rule correctly helps maintain the beauty and accuracy of Quranic pronunciation.

What Is Madd Aarid?

Madd aarid occurs when a madd letter (a long vowel: alif, waaw, or yaa) is followed by a letter that takes a sukoon due to stopping at the end of a verse or phrase. Since the sukoon is not originally part of the word but results from stopping, this type of elongation is considered temporary. The term "aarid" means "incidental" or "temporary," indicating that the elongation only applies when pausing at the end of the word.

How Long Should It Be Extended?

Reciters can elongate madd aarid by two, four, or six counts (harakat). The length varies based on the style of recitation, personal preference, or the choice of the reciter's teacher. However, consistency is important; a reciter should maintain the same length throughout a recitation session.

Examples of Madd Aarid

To better understand how madd aarid works, consider these examples from the Quran:

Al-Fatiha (1:2) – الحمد لله رب العالمين (Alhamdu lillahi rabbil 'aalameen)

The word "العالمين" ends with a yaa preceded by a kasrah, making it subject to madd aarid when stopping.

Al-Baqarah (2:2) – ذلك الكتاب لا ريب (Dhalikal kitaabu laa rayba)

"ريب" ends with a madd letter followed by a sukoon when stopping, requiring elongation.

Why Is It Important?

Applying madd aarid correctly enhances the rhythm and flow of recitation. It also reflects the traditional methods of pronunciation passed down through generations. Proper application ensures clarity, making it easier for listeners to understand and appreciate the recitation.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Inconsistent elongation: Switching between different lengths within a single recitation.

Skipping the elongation: Shortening the madd, which disrupts the proper recitation.

Extending excessively: Adding more counts than recommended, which can alter the meaning of words.

Conclusion

Learning and applying madd aarid is essential for anyone aiming to improve their Quranic recitation. By understanding the rule, practicing consistently, and listening to experienced reciters, one can develop a more beautiful and accurate style of recitation. Paying attention to these details not only helps in proper pronunciation but also deepens one's connection with the Quran.

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practicepractices · 5 months ago

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Week 4: One Felt Natural, One Felt Like a Memory Test

For today’s PS, Mr. Bialak and I continued working on Dream in Exile from where we left off. I also presented the Prélude from Suite Bergamasque. I feel like I’m starting to capture the dreamy and exotic character of Dream in Exile. I needed to shape my musicality more effectively, breaking up bars 45–49 into two phrases for the ear rather than following the long phrase as written in the score. This gives the music a clearer sense of direction instead of letting it meander. A singing quality also needed more attention to enhance the phrasing and expressiveness.

Other areas worked on:

Bar 60: Check rhythm of crotchet triplet

Bars 60-64: Double check RH notes

Bars 66-67: Voice melodic line more clearly

Bars 81-86: Keep LH soft, gentle and elusive

Bar 92: Check rhythm of LH semiquaver triplets

Bars 100-101: Make sure LH notes can be clearly heard

Bars 113-118: Reorganise on how to shape my phrases

Bar 118: Learning to grasp “dying away” both aurally and visually

Bar 120: Do not play RH semiquaver triplet to early since it is “dying away”

While Dream in Exile was generally easier to correct, the Prélude from Suite Bergamasque didn’t go as smoothly. I attempted to play it from memory, but this only exacerbated my performance. My memory wasn’t secure, and I had many stumbles, which disrupted the flow. Without the security of the score, I found myself losing focus on the finer details and struggling with transitions, which affected the overall flow of the piece.

Memorisation has been a challenge for me since Year 1. Despite many attempts, I’ve continued to struggle, and performance nerves only make it worse—causing my memory to crumble easily. I feel nervous whenever I have to present a piece, even if it’s just in front of one person. I tend to lose focus and overthink how bad my playing sounds, making every mistake feel magnified in my ears. No matter how prepared I feel—or how much I’ve actually prepared—it always turns out worse than I anticipated. Even when I keep my hopes low and try to stay positive, the outcome still falls short of my expectations.

I’m not sure how to fix this, and it’s frustrating because I feel like I’ve tried everything—practicing more, mentally preparing myself, and keeping my expectations realistic—yet the problem persists. It’s disheartening to put in so much effort only to feel like I’m not improving where it matters most. I worry that no matter how much I practice, nerves will always get the better of me, making my playing sound worse than it actually is. It makes me question whether I’ll ever feel truly confident when performing, or if this will always be a struggle.

Nonetheless, I think a step forward was me playing from memory in PS, even if it might not seem like a big achievement in other people’s eyes. I’ve always felt extremely shy when presenting my playing—it almost feels too raw and exposed, as if I’m laying a part of myself bare for judgment. The vulnerability of performing, especially from memory, makes every mistake feel magnified, adding to the pressure. Even so, I know that pushing myself to do it is necessary for growth.

Suite Bergamasque seems to be the weakest piece in my repertoire, as its style and interpretation don’t come naturally to me. Unlike Dream in Exile, which felt more intuitive, I find myself struggling to shape the phrases and capture the character of the piece. The lightness, fluidity, and elegance that define Debussy’s style don’t emerge effortlessly in my playing, making it feel less convincing. This disconnect makes me question whether I truly understand the piece on a deeper level or if I’m simply not attuned to its stylistic nuances yet.

We didn’t have much time to work in detail and only managed to go through the first page. Mr Bialak gave lots of feedback and it seems like I was doing something wrong in almost every bar—whether it was phrasing issues or stumbling over notes. On top of that, I was also affected by my own poor playing from memory the first time round, which made me even more unsure of myself.

Conclusion

Overall, this session highlighted some of the challenges I’m still facing in my playing, especially when it comes to memorisation and interpretation. While I’ve made progress with Dream in Exile, it’s clear that Suite Bergamasque needs more attention to bring out its true character and refine my phrasing. My nerves and shyness around presenting pieces continue to be a struggle, and playing from memory, though a step forward, only amplified my insecurities. Despite these setbacks, I’m determined to keep pushing through. Each session, no matter how difficult, brings me closer to understanding and overcoming these obstacles, and I know that with patience and consistent effort, I’ll get closer to the musicality I’m striving for.

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beachesgetpeaches · 6 months ago

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idk if any of you have experienced the "audiobooks count as reading" arguments and discussions but to me it feel like people discussing it need to sit and think about what they're debating because the conversation is so.... stupid!??

like - yes, of course! if you consume a book by listening to it you have successfully understood the plot and bravo you can mark it as read in whichever app you use to track your read count (bcs thats what matters most to some people, the number they can brag about.. but thats a different topic altogether)

what I think we should all agree on is that LISTENING TO AUDIOBOOKS is not the same as READING PHYSICAL BOOKS (or yknow pdfs, or whichever written/typed up word).

fundamentally it is different.

you use different senses to do it.

the outcome? more or less the same.

the process? decidedly not so.

the benefits? probably similar but not same.

my best metaphor is gills vs lungs (stick w me please). both organs exist in living organisms with the goal of providing oxygen supply. both will ultimately provide oxygen thus ensuring life. HOWEVER the process of how it is done IS a bit different when compared, and an organism w lungs will die under water, as will an organism w gills if you take it to dry land. so, while they do essentially lead to the same outcome there is a difference to be made. and neither organ is necessarily superior to the other, they just work for a set number of species in a specific environment. hell p sure some organisms have adapted to get oxygen in other ways but idk enough about it to comment.

same goes for listening vs reading: fundamentally they're not the same, and conflating the meaning is:

1) stupid and useless

2) kind if risky imo because reading does imply literacy whereas listening does not

3) ridiculous because they are not the same

listening means someone else has read the words on paper, has added their tone to them (thus perhaps overriding a bit of your own personal interpretation you might have for the voice/tone of the book/characters), and now you have listened to it, and can discuss the plot and how you liked it.

reading means you yourself are looking at the words, processing them, and adding the tone according to how you are interpreting this book (or set of events, or character...). to be able to read you need to know the alphabet, which is not necessary for listening.

reading imo gives you a better insight into the flow of the writing, while listening gives you better insight into the quality of the reading (reader?) of the book.

listening might give you understanding of new phrases or words, but you might be at a loss when it comes to their spelling.

reading can have you learning new vocabulary, but pronouncing shit wrong bcs you just assume based on the spelling (and how many of us have been there?).

BOTH are very valid ways to consume books, this is something we can hopefully all agree on, and should help us to not feel the need to equate the two.

but personally, my main concern here is that reading is a step extra to listening. reading means knowing the gd letters of the alphabet, reading and literacy has been so very important to the entire human history, and trying to say that listening is the same as reading is a slippery slope.

do we then allow children to listen to books instead of reading them? what is the consequence of this? what happens when we all start simply listening to books? what about the element of reading that directly plays into imagination - thinking up voices, interpreting how things are said, things that your brain just does not do when being read to (aka when you listen to audiobooks).

and to conclude, I dont think either way of adults consuming books they want to is inherently "more worthy", and I myself cannot listen to books because my brain refuses to do so but kudos to people who do it bcs that sounds like amazing focus on your part.

I just wish people discussing this allowed more nuance instead of saying listening = reading based on their own personal ego or smth.

#reading #books #audiobooks #reading vs listening #thoughts and ideas

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vansh19104 · 8 months ago

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How to Combine SEO and PPC for Maximum Visibility

Introduction

In the world of digital marketing, search engine optimization (SEO) and pay-per-click advertising (PPC) stand as two of the most powerful tools for increasing online visibility. While each of these strategies can be effective on its own, combining them can help businesses gain a stronger foothold in search results, drive more traffic, and improve their return on investment (ROI). This article explores how SEO and PPC can work together, providing insights into strategies, tools, and best practices for maximum visibility in today’s competitive online landscape.

Read More- SEO Services in Bracknell

Optimizing Landing Pages for Both SEO and PPC

Landing pages are critical for conversion and need to perform well for both paid and organic traffic. By optimizing these pages for both SEO and PPC, businesses can improve user experience and conversion rates.

Read More- Website Development in Bracknell

Consistent Messaging: A landing page that aligns with the keywords and messaging used in both SEO and PPC ensures that users find relevant information. This alignment increases the chances of conversions, as users feel that they’ve arrived at the right place.

Faster Load Times and Mobile Optimization: Both SEO and PPC campaigns benefit from fast-loading, mobile-friendly landing pages. Search engines and users alike favor pages that are quick and accessible on all devices.

Read More- Software Development Services in Bracknell

Remarketing SEO Traffic with PPC Ads

Remarketing, a powerful PPC tactic, can also support SEO efforts by targeting visitors who came to the site through organic search but didn’t convert.

Using Retargeting Ads: Visitors who land on a website through SEO but leave without converting can be brought back through targeted PPC ads. This approach can keep the brand top-of-mind and encourages return visits, leading to increased conversions over time.

Creating Customized Campaigns: By analyzing SEO traffic patterns, businesses can design specific remarketing campaigns to target high-potential segments, using tailored messages and offers.

Read More- Mobile App Development Services in Bracknell

Case Studies and Examples

Successful integration of SEO and PPC is evident in various industries. For example, a retail business might leverage organic search for long-term product visibility while using PPC for immediate promotions or sales events. Similarly, a service-based business could use SEO for consistent brand awareness, and PPC for targeting competitive keywords that may be hard to rank for organically. Analyzing these strategies can offer valuable insights and best practices for other businesses aiming for optimal search visibility.

Read More- Website Development in Reading

Tools to Aid SEO and PPC Integration

There are numerous tools available to help integrate SEO and PPC efforts seamlessly:

Google Analytics: Allows for tracking of organic and paid performance, making it easier to identify trends and opportunities.

SEMrush and Ahrefs: Offer keyword insights for both SEO and PPC, assisting with competitive analysis, keyword overlap, and identifying high-value terms.

Google Ads Keyword Planner: Useful for understanding search volumes and cost-per-click (CPC) data, which can inform both organic and paid strategies.

#SEO Services in Reading

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proaccuracy14 · 8 months ago

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The Impact of Proofreading and Editing on Creative Writing

Creative writing is a journey of self-expression, imagination, and the delicate art of storytelling. However, the journey does not end with penning down words; it culminates in the processes of proofreading and editing. These two essential steps play a pivotal role in enhancing the quality of creative writing, ensuring that the final product resonates with readers and communicates the intended message effectively.

Understanding Creative Writing

Creative writing encompasses various forms, including fiction, poetry, screenplays, and essays. Each genre has its unique style and structure, yet they share common elements such as character development, plot progression, and thematic depth. However, regardless of the genre, the initial draft is often a raw version filled with potential but lacking in clarity and polish. This is where proofreading and editing come into play.

The Importance of Proofreading

Proofreading is the final stage of the writing process. It involves reviewing the text for errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and formatting. While it may seem straightforward, the significance of proofreading in creative writing cannot be overstated.

Eliminating Errors: Errors can distract readers from the narrative. A misplaced comma or a misspelled word can disrupt the flow of the story, leading to confusion or misinterpretation. For instance, consider the difference between "Let's eat, Grandma!" and "Let's eat Grandma!" This humorous example underscores how punctuation can alter meaning entirely. Proofreading helps catch these critical errors.

Enhancing Clarity: Clear communication is essential in creative writing. Proofreading allows writers to refine their language, ensuring that their ideas are presented logically and coherently. It enables writers to clarify their intent, making the narrative easier to follow for the reader.

Maintaining Consistency: In longer pieces, maintaining consistency in voice, tense, and style is crucial. Proofreading helps ensure that the writing adheres to the established tone and style throughout the work, creating a seamless reading experience.

The Role of Editing

While proofreading focuses on surface-level issues, editing delves deeper into the structure and content of the writing. It involves revising the text to improve its overall quality. Editing can take various forms, including developmental editing, copyediting, and line editing.

Content Refinement: Editing is an opportunity to refine the content. Writers can assess whether their ideas are fully developed, if characters are relatable, and if the plot is engaging. This stage often involves asking questions like: Does the story make sense? Are the characters consistent? Is the dialogue realistic?

Structural Changes: Editing allows writers to restructure their work for better flow. This may involve rearranging paragraphs, cutting unnecessary scenes, or adding new content to fill gaps in the narrative. For example, a writer might realize that a character's backstory is essential to understanding their motivations and decide to weave that backstory into the narrative more effectively.

Enhancing Style and Voice: Each writer has a unique voice, and editing provides the opportunity to enhance it. Writers can focus on sentence variety, word choice, and stylistic elements that contribute to their personal style. An editor can also help identify clichés or repetitive phrases, suggesting alternatives that add freshness to the writing.

Techniques for Effective Proofreading and Editing

To maximize the impact of proofreading and editing, writers can employ several effective techniques:

Take a Break: After completing a draft, it’s beneficial to step away for a few days. This break allows writers to return to their work with fresh eyes, making it easier to spot errors and inconsistencies.

Read Aloud: Reading the text aloud can help identify awkward phrasing and grammatical mistakes. Hearing the words can reveal issues that might be overlooked when reading silently.

Use Digital Tools: Numerous tools and software can assist in proofreading and editing. Programs like Grammarly, Hemingway Editor, and ProWritingAid offer suggestions for grammar, style, and readability. However, while these tools are helpful, they should not replace a thorough manual review.

Seek Feedback: Sharing work with trusted peers or writing groups can provide valuable insights. Fresh perspectives can highlight areas needing improvement that the writer may not have noticed. Constructive criticism is a vital part of the editing process.

Hire a Professional Editor: For serious writers, hiring a professional editor can be a game-changer. Professional editors bring expertise and an objective viewpoint, helping to elevate the writing to a higher standard. They can also offer specialized services, such as developmental editing or line editing, tailored to the writer’s needs.

The Emotional Aspect of Editing and Proofreading

Creative writing is often a deeply personal endeavor, and the act of editing can evoke various emotions. Writers may feel attached to their words and may resist making significant changes. However, it’s essential to view editing as an opportunity for growth rather than a critique of one’s abilities. Embracing the editing process can lead to a more polished and compelling narrative.

Case Studies: Successful Writers and Their Editing Processes

Many renowned authors emphasize the significance of proofreading and editing in their writing journeys. For instance, Ernest Hemingway was known for his meticulous editing process. He famously stated, "The first draft of anything is shit," reflecting his belief that the true art of writing emerges through revision.

Similarly, J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, spent countless hours revising her work. She sought feedback from beta readers and professional editors, resulting in a rich, captivating series that resonated with millions. Their experiences underscore the universal truth that great writing is often a product of diligent editing and proofreading.

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wordweavewonder · 1 year ago

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WordWeave WonderXpress: Ten MISSED conceptions about the English language you prolly don't know!

Welcome on board, thrill-seekers of language! I am Kyle, and I will be your guide in today’s adventure. Fasten your seatbelts for an exciting voyage through the bizarre realm of English language today. Prepare yourself for turns, twists, and a ton of fun as we dispel several falsehoods that have long caused misunderstandings in language. Hop on in and welcome to WordWeave Wonders! Our destination? English language misconceptions!

1. Before I After E Except After C:

With several exceptions, the English language does not strictly follow this norm. Terms like "seize" and "weird" contradict it, thus it's more of a suggestion than a hard and fast law. We must be alert to this peculiarity of English spelling.

2. Apostrophes and Possession:

Because "its" indicates possession and "it's" is a contraction of "it is," people frequently confuse the two words. Names with an apostrophe ('s') provide an additional level of intricacy; whether to use an apostrophe or not depends on the style guide and the individual.

3. 'An' Goes Before Words That Start with H:

Words that begin with 'h' should use 'an' before them depending on the sound rather than the letter. Even though the word "history" starts with a "h," the sound is a consonant "h," hence the correct phrase is "a history" rather than "an history."

4. Hyphens and Dashes:

Dashes have distinct functions in sentence construction, whereas hyphens link words in particular instances. Understanding the differences between emdashes, endashes, and hyphens improves the accuracy and readability of your work.

5. 'Would Of' and 'Off Of':

Accepting the appropriate contractions, like "would've," helps prevent the widespread misunderstanding that arises from the spoken contraction "would've" sounding like "would of." Like this, using shorter prepositions in place of "off of" preserves professionalism and clarity.

6. English Proficiency and Regional Dominance:

Although native speakers may perform exceptionally well in spoken English, advanced writing calls for abilities. Proficiency in writing is not enough to master academic writing; one must also grasp formal structures, styles, and conventions.

7. British English Superiority:

Even while American and British English both have distinctive qualities, it is arbitrary to think of one as being better than the other. Since language is a living thing, it is always changing and offers unique linguistic flavors that are influenced by the historical and cultural backgrounds of its speakers.

8. Starting Sentences with Conjunctions:

It is not a grammatical rule, but a stylistic preference, that sentences cannot begin with a conjunction. This method has been employed for decades by numerous well-known writers, from Shakespeare up to Bard, adding to the language's organic flow and fluidity.

9. Ending Sentences with Prepositions:

Rather than being a matter of grammar, the dislike of concluding sentences with a preposition comes from historical influences. Enforcing strict restrictions prohibiting the use of prepositions at sentence ends can impede the expression of natural language in English.

10. The Passive Voice Predicament:

The passive voice has definite use in informational communication; it is not intrinsically wrong. Even though it's best to avoid overusing it, there are instances in which the passive voice improves clarity, particularly when the action's performer is unclear or irrelevant.

That's it, language daredevils! Even though English grammar has its peculiarities, the journey is unquestionably exciting. Thus, welcome the curves and accept the twists as the delight of language takes you on a memorable adventure! Once again, I am Kyle, your humble guide, signing-off as you take off from today’s ride. Peace!

About the Author:

Kyle Christian C. Villalon, simply known as Kyle, is a bona fide student of Bulacan State University – Sarmiento Campus currently taking the program of Bachelor of Secondary Education, Major in English, and Minor in Mandarin.

Kyle has been a self-proclaimed connoisseur of fine arts, natural science, history, anything weeb-ish, and cats throughout his lifetime. He has been a representative of his school in matters of journalism and science and garnered a couple of awards. His hobbies include painting, drawing, sketching, art viewing, reading history books, watching anime, motorcycle riding, and rubbing the bellies of their family cats.

He is currently writing and illustrating his own one-shot comic and juggles academics at the same time as of writing. He aspires to become a professional comic creator and an educator someday, hoping to graduate college without going insane.

References:

Ginger Article - 8 biggest misconceptions about the English language. (n.d.). Www.gingersoftware.com. Retrieved January 26, 2024, from https://www.gingersoftware.com/content/8-biggest-misconceptions-about-the-english-language

Myths and Misconceptions of the English Language. (2014, September 1). The Writer’s Cookbook. https://www.writerscookbook.com/fake-rules-of-grammar/

Wikipedia Contributors. (2019, December 20). Common English usage misconceptions. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_English_usage_misconceptions

10 Misconceptions About the English Language. (2015, May 19). Mental Floss. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/64150/10-misconceptions-about-english

#BulSU #English 1A #EL 105 #Structures of English #WordWeave Wonders #English Language Misconceptions

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bi-focal12 · 6 months ago

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personally, i definitely think that these phrases stand out a lot more to the writer than to the reader, but if you feel like those comparison phrases are adding up too much or getting a bit clunky, I’d recommend experimenting with metaphors rather than trying to look for replacements for “like” or “as”

to a reader, something like “her smile was like the rising sun” is super easy to read and can do a lot of work communicating theme and mood and details about the character (or narrator, depending) but switching it up to something more complex like “her smile was akin to the rising sun” can make a reader pause and go ‘huh that’s a little awkward’ unless that’s the style of language you’ve been writing in the whole time

that said, i think the simplest way to cut down on similes if you have too many (or don’t enjoy how they affect the flow of your sentences) is to use metaphors. they can help cut down that barrier between a character comparing two things (e.g. her smile & the rising sun) and instead appeal directly to a reader’s senses or their understanding of the world, so that the comparison just becomes part of the scene itself

for example, I was reading Sally Rooney’s Normal People during the unit on comparisons for a writing course I took and some that stood out to me were how she described “rain silver as loose change in the glare of traffic” and how that rain “[whispered] on slick roof tiles”

the first quote is a simile while the second is a metaphor, but both of them are making comparisons (the first comparing rain & loose change, leaning on a readers visual reference for shiny coins and implying that the narrator thinks these two things are alike) while the second one compares the sound of rain to the sound of whispering by making it part of the scene description directly. rather than say “it was as if the rain whispered on slick roof tiles” Rooney broke down the barrier that similes sometimes put up by directly appealing to the reader’s senses instead (sound here, instead of sight) and that’s effective bc a reader can very easily understand what it means for rain to whisper without the author having to put in a lot of work looking for a natural way to say “the rain seemed as if it was whispering on slick roof tiles”

and sometimes similes just work better than metaphors. it really depends but, as the author, you get to choose what works for you and what doesn’t

these kind of considerations can be hard to remember when you’re in the middle of writing, too, but the editing phase can be a great place to turn some similes into metaphors (or to decide that you like all your similes and to leave them be!)

i know a lot of my writing involves me writing exactly what I mean, and then scaling it back in the editing phase so that I’m showing what I mean instead of stating it all outright- and in that process a lot of similes end up incorporated in different ways (either by using metaphors instead or by dropping the comparison altogether and leaning more on body language and or theme to draw out the ideas and impressions i want a reader to get) so maybe that strategy could work for you too?

i got a little long-winded here but I hope this helps!

As a newer writer, I'm struggling to use similes in more ways other than by phrases like "like", "seeming as", "as if" or other versions of these three.

What are some of the other, if any, ways to compare something to something else, to avoid a book turning mundane?

#writeblr #writerscommunity #writers on tumblr #writers community #creative writing #writing

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naturecoaster · 2 years ago

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SWFWMD Chief Professional Engineer Caps Off the Annual "Save our Waters Week" at the Old Courthouse Heritage Museum in Inverness

As part of The 28th Annual Save our Waters Week, Mark Fulkerson, Chief Professional Engineer with theSouthwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD), entertained and educated a packed house with a “Coffee and Conversations” presentation that lasted almost two hours. The crowd clearly enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about the area’s water resources. Fulkerson is very popular. His newsletter ("Withlacoochee River System Update") is widely read in Citrusand surrounding counties, and he is probably the most trusted leader SWFWMD has in the communities. He greeted a surprising number of the 95 attendees by their first names - and they welcomed himwarmly. He used personal stories and his deep knowledge of the region, the river, and the area lakes(especially Tsala Apopka) to get some important points across. Learning about SWFWMD Water Management in Citrus County Those points were clear and very appropriate for the event: - Water is essential for life, but we often take it for granted. - The water we drink, nourish our crops with, and that sustains our verdant environment meanders 160 miles through eight Florida counties before eventually discharging into the Gulf of Mexico. It is a treasure. - Nearly one-third of the river’s watershed is conservation land in one form or another which helps provide natural flood storage and improves water quality. - The Green Swamp (headwaters of the Withlacoochee) is important because of its very high Floridian Aquifer levels and natural plant communities that are home to over 300 species of wildlife. - The Tsala Apopka Chain of Lakes (eastern Citrus County) interacts with the Withlacoochee River through a series of canals and water control structures. Without shying away from several technical issues, Mark Fulkerson explained that SWFWMD operates those mostly inherited structures to maximize benefits to the public through water conservation and flood protection. Save our Waters Week is all about education and the protection of our waterways. He explained that things have improved dramatically from the days when the Army Corp of Engineers ran the system, but proudly said SWFWMD maintains a courteous professional relationship with ACE and gets good support as a result. Lake Russeau at sunset. Image by Sally White. To the immense pleasure of the members of the Citrus County Historical Society, he showed slides andtalked easily about many special places in the river system - especially Lake Rousseau. He traced itshistory back to its creation in 1909 and explained that it is also managed by SWFWMD to provide floodprotection and to ensure freshwater flows downstream through the Lower Withlacoochee River to theGulf of Mexico. He told the remarkably interesting tale of how he (along with "a couple of other staff" members) walkedand boated the entire river during the severe drought back in 2006 & 2007. He showed pictures of themsurveying the bottom elevations to build a computer model that today provides a much better understanding of the complex river system. He explained how he and his colleagues use those data points - and the deep understanding of it theteam has developed, to help educate the public. He added that more importantly, it helps SWFWMD tomake good (fact-based) management decisions and develop more "property-owner friendly" operatingpractices. Mark was masterful and generous with his time during the Q&A. He was comfortable enough with thecrowd to leave questions for the end. After repeating each question asked to confirm that he knew what he was being asked, he answered them fully. He also took the time to think about his phrasing to ensure he was providing a clear and direct answer. There was no doubt this was not a canned pitch or collection of preselected “must use” phrases. Finally, those who were not already "following him" appreciated that he invited them to register to getup-to-date water level information via his newsletter. He provided useful full-color map handouts, aswell. Save our Waters Week happens each year, but SWFWMD works to protect water every day. He closed by explaining that SWFWMD doesn't just answer questions (and complaints). They embrace "reaching out to the public," and cooperate with many other agencies. He certainly did that on this Saturday night. As the crowd departed, the comments I heard, and the atmosphere were upbeat and happy. "What agood speaker," “What a diplomat he was." "What a true professional public servant!" It was surelyanother great night at the Old Courthouse Heritage Museum. There are many activities in Citrus County for Save our Waters Week, but this one was one of the best! Read the full article

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babytaes · 4 years ago

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afterglow

➳ summary: You, too, lived in a colorless world, trying to connect with it. How long would you have to wait for that one to brighten it up and let you see the real world?

❥ pairing: wonwoo x female reader

❥ genre: angst, fluff, kinda soulmate au.....?

❥ word count: 7k (sorry, mans is my bias and I had to ;)

❥ warning: mentions of death.

➳ part of the song series

↳ Imagine a world like that,

We go like up 'til I'm 'sleep on your chest

Love how my face fits so good in your neck

You had a twin brother who was everything to you. Everything was always you two, from the endless amounts of laughter to the sneaky efforts to take Christmas cookies early in the morning.

With him, everything seems to be so colorful; in your lifetime, everyone was given a companion who may be a friend, sibling, or lover. It was simply something that you treasured. As a result, the alternatives were numerous.

You had no idea how much his life meant to you. He was your second half, and now you'd been split in half, with one gone and the other remaining.

Months passed, and your relationship with him became increasingly dimmer and dimmer. The brilliant hues faded in and out, with black and white patches becoming more prominent.

That awful day, unfortunately, was the last time you saw color. His light had faded from the world, and all that was left was black and white.

With him gone, your entire life seemed pointless, even your day-to-day existence. No splash of color to brighten things up.

“Y/N, I'll never forget you, big sister. Thank you for the enjoyable and considerate memories, and don't let this stunt your growth, please do that for me. As the beeper went off, he began to cough incessantly.

“Helpppp anyone.” As your parents draw you back into their arms, you hear many doctors rush into the room.

There was nothing they could do; his hue had vanished from this world. When you opened your tear-streaked eyes and examined your hands, you noticed that the formerly vivid cream palms had turned gray.

As if all colors were abruptly bleached out of the world, revealing a universe of whiteness—the rainbow, flowers, trees, and art, everything freshly bleached and pearled. The last vestige of color had vanished from your life, and you had been broken since then, heartbroken over the loss of your dearest friend.

“Y/n, hey you're good, we could use your help.” As you glanced to the side, you noticed that one of your employees had just spilled some water from the mop bucket.

As you approach their side, you assist them in mopping up the mess while sweeping aimlessly across the floor, making sure to get every spot. Due to your new life of no color it reflected on your life emotionally.

As the days passed, you became increasingly depressed and unmotivated. There wasn't a single day when you didn't feel mopey or lonely. It wasn't like anyone could help me; it was just the challenge of living a life without color.

Although you sincerely desired to overcome this phase of your life and simply find the right person to fill that void, life did not work in your favor at the time. Everyone around you seemed to be looking for or had already found their "person."

All you wanted was to find the person who could restore your hope and love, which had been taken away when your brother died. Your parents did everything they could to assist you, including setting you up on strange and ineffective dates that just added to your unhappiness.

Nobody could replace that color that your brother provided for you, or maybe someone could?

"I'm off," you remarked as you pulled off your apron and clocked out in the back. As you stepped out the door, you heard a flurry of goodbyes before closing it behind you.

The world never shifted when the clock struck five.

As you strolled down the crowded streets, the sky before and above you remained grey, never letting up that cloak of shade. A melodious music gradually pours into your ears as you go down the bustling sidewalk.

You follow the dazzling yet tranquil sound of the guitar aimlessly as you imagine music notes flying through the fall air. You cautiously open your tired eyes and spot the crowd to figure out where these tunes are coming from.

Looking up, you spotted a swarm encircling a male, but you couldn't tell who it was. However, it was the music that drew you in; you'd heard that melody before. Even if you weren't musically inclined, you could hear that tune anywhere.

It was his, the one he wrote for you.

You dashed outside to see your brother strumming a tune on the grass with his guitar. Your brother possessed a talent for music. It is a condition that many people are born with, and you were fortunate that your brother was one of them.

He didn't go a day without making up or humming something he'd learned. It was frustrating to hear it every day, but it was still lovely to witness his enthusiasm for it.

“Hey, what are you cooking up this time?” As he began to strum the guitar, he turned around and grinned at you. You couldn't understand what he was mumbling, but it sounded lovely as his fingers casually slid across the strings.

“I don't have the lyrics yet, but I'm sure they'll come. You laughed and nudged his shoulder.

“Just don’t go play at 3 in the morning. Okay?”

“It's not my fault that's typically when the inspiration comes,” he grumbled as he rolled his eyes.

As you raced away from him, you swiftly took his guitar, saying, "Well, I guess that inspiration will have to wait." He leapt from his seat and dashed towards you, yelling your name.

You had no idea that would be his final song; you regret not listening to the finished product; you never knew if he finished it. However, when you got closer to the enticing sound, you observed a young man strumming a guitar, and your ears perked up.

A slender man with long fingers and a quirky side smile, perhaps a musician, delicately touched a golden acoustic guitar, playing her ever so elegantly. You stand there, enthralled by the song, as his hands strum and tug the steel strings of the guitar. You take a cautious step closer to him in order to get a better look.

Allowing the music to take control of your body, you take a deep breath and allow an ounce of hope to creep in. From miles away, the formerly lovely and alive girl could be seen racing to you as you opened your arms to her.

You tried desperately to reach her before she vanished into thin air. The glint had disappeared. As you slowly open your eyes, you notice the man stop playing and gazes up at the audience.

As a smile crept across your face, the edges of your lips began to curl up. You'd forgotten what a smile looked like; you hadn't seen one in a long time, and it just felt natural. Even though he was gone, you could sense his presence. As you began to back away from the mob, tears began to flow freely from your eyes.

As you faded from his view and moved away from the crowd, the boy cast a peek at you. You swear you saw a glimpse of color rushing through your orbs, even if it was just for a split second. You couldn't tell if this was a joke or a new experience for you because you were more terrified than excited.

Could you trust that vision? Would they leave your life like he once did or would they stay? (IT)

Although you wanted to stay and figure it out you had somewhere to be and you didn’t want anyone to waste that special time.

(1 hour later)

Opening the rusted gate and looking at the wrought iron fences sends shivers down your spine as you are whisked back to that tragic day.

As you headed towards the pit, a crack formed in your heart. As they lowered his casket into the black abyss, the steady steps of feet carried it there. Countless shadowy figures form a procession, speaking in unison to pay their respects to the one you cherish. Your inner essence is corrupted by despair, and your heart bleeds like a river inside. Nothing could ever make you feel better.

As they began to fill the hole with dirt, tears welled up in your eyes, prompting you to lower your head. He didn't want you to be sad; he knew his time was coming to an end, yet he felt so safe in his final days.

He wasn't going to abandon you; he'd promised you that he'd left you something to aid you along the path. Even if that were the case, you never discovered it after four years. You rummaged through his room and tore it apart.

You quickly recognized that he was either joking or that the drug had taken effect in his brain and he was talking gibberish. In any case, you made a pledge to visit his grave every day from that day forward to keep him company and to keep yourself sane.

---

Clutching onto your bag, the leaves crunched beneath your feet as you peered about. You see specks of people strewn throughout the cemetery as you hear some speak in low whispers. It didn't take you long to find his gravestone.

You noticed the dead flowers drooping over as you took them out of their vase beside the tomb. Replacing them always brought joy to your heart as the sight of a fresh bouquet of flowers brightened the somber ambiance, which contrasted with the mold-infested tomb.

Taking out your cleaning supplies and speaker, you start working on his tomb while listening to his favorite music. As you hummed along with the song, your soft-bristle brush softly scrubbed the headstone in an orbital motion from bottom to top, carefully avoiding the fissures.

As you finished the soap, you began to rinse the stone as dirt and debris began to fall off the tomb. Although you couldn't determine if everything was off, you could plainly see the phrases and symbols, which was a good hint to stop cleaning everything off.

You wanted to do more for him and not leave any dirt on the surface. But because everything was gray, you couldn't tell, which made you sulk as you put down your brush. As you check the clock on your phone, you exhale a sigh of relief.

7:23p.m

Looking around, you noticed the stragglers had dispersed, leaving you alone as you gazed up at the sky.

“I hope the sunset looks beautiful today, I do miss it.”

The late evening sunset was the one thing you missed more than your brother; you had always admired how everything just flowed and fit together in the evening sky. It's almost as if someone began painting and simply let their hand float through the air.

As you turned to face his tomb, another smile appeared on your face, prompting you to go into your bag for something. As you placed down a cup for you and him, you chuckled at the bottle revealed beneath the sky.

“Lucas, here's to another day. It's been difficult in recent years, but today was a good day. I sensed your presence through the music of some random person; it was strange, but I'm glad I was there to see it. So thank you,” you say, raising your shot glass in the air and taking a sip.

As you heard a voice, you wiped a stray tear from your face.

“I'm sorry for bothering you.”

“Shit, what the hell,” you cursed the dark figure, startled and terrified. Who is there? As you squint your eyes at him, a male emerges from the shadows.

It's him.

----

You cough as you stand up and face the nameless man, he extends his hand as his glasses slide down his narrow nose, “Hi I’m Wonwoo.”

You take his hand in yours and shake it slowly, his grip firm until you let go.

“Hi..wonwoo? “I'm Y/n.” As the boy grinned at you, your voice was barely audible.

He takes a careful step alongside you and sits down close to your brother's grave, placing a case beside him. As you enlarged your eyes and sat down next to him, still observing him, the atmosphere felt reassuring but strange.

“I apologize for startling you; I didn't know that you were there. I’m not sure if your brother mentioned me but I was his friend, we used to write songs together.” As he turned to face you, you noticed the tall man attempting to cross his legs.

You shook your head as you began to gather your belongings, unsure of who this man was. For all you knew, he may be lying to you, so you needed to get out of there as soon as possible. You rose up and began walking away after securing the zipper on your backpack.

“Wait, you don’t have to leave. I can come back another time. I am truly sorry if I interrupted anything."

“No, it's fine,” you say with a shake of your head and outstretched hands.

“Are you sure?”

You walk away again, nodding your head as you hear his voice and a familiar tune.

You came to a halt in your tracks as you slowly turned around to face the boy after hearing a faint melody. As your ears perked up, you heard a low voice.

‘I stand still before you before me. I’m okay, not okay..” The lyrics faded out as you started to find your bearings again as you made your way out of the cemetery. As you stepped toward the road, you strapped your bag on, making sure you had everything you needed.

A girl out on a walk is something you can see every day, yet you were unique. You walked as if you and the road had reached an agreement, as if the concrete was more than eager to support your feet.

The road understood you.

*Ping*

The light of your phone lit up as you clicked on the message.

Mom: Hey sweetie, I dropped off some food at your apartment and did some tidying up. Get home safety.

You: Thanks mom.

Her message brought back memories of days when you and her would cook together and simply bond over the end result. You missed it. Because you live in different places, you don't get to see your parents very frequently, yet they always made time for you.

I wish you could do the same; home is just too much for you to stomach, and you'd rather avoid it.

You reach the corner street after a few more steps, ready to begin your one-mile trek home. As you look back after exhaling a sigh, you hear rumbling on your feet. An automobile approached you, its bright headlights blazing directly at you.

You shifted to the side, squinting your eyes at the sight, and wonwoo greeted you again before you realized it. He grinned at you with his dazzling whites as he bent his head down.

what is with this guy?

Hey, hop in, I'll give you a ride. It's becoming late, and I don't want you walking through here.” As you took a step back, wary of the stranger, he moved his hand closer to you.

“Um.. No-no I’m okay. However, thank you.” As you heard his engine trailing behind you, you began to walk faster. He followed you for a few seconds longer before you came to a complete halt and stared at him.

Through the windshield, you could see him smirk as he waved his hand to you.

“It'll be a lot faster, and if you're worried I'll kidnap you or anything, don't fret. I'm allergic to cats, and I'm a cat person myself. As a result, I assure you that I will not harm you. I just wanted to help a friend.” You moved over to his car, smiled a little, and hopped in, securing yourself with your seatbelt.

“If you do anything I have some bleach and I’m not afraid to use it,” he chuckled at you as he started the car and proceeded to exit the cemetery.

“You’re funny.”

As you gave wonwoo your address he proceeded to drive out of the rural neighborhood as you put your head on the window. You didn't realize it at the time, but you could feel his penetrating glances.

The car was quiet as the low sounds of music vibrated through the car. When you weren't driving, car journeys were the best since they enabled your mind to fantasize and paint over the enormous landscape you were seeing. That haven you built in your imagination calms you and makes you feel protected. The place where you may get away from reality.

As soon as your eyes close for the night, you hear him humming a familiar tune. Rather than remaining silent, you begin a conversation with him, inquiring as to how he learned the song.

“So how did you meet Lucas?” As he laughed, he cast a peek at you.

“Well, I met him at a college party a long time ago and discovered he makes music, so we used to meet up at a friend's studio and just create.” You lightly chuckled as a tear fell down your face as you nodded your head.

It was good to hear other people talk about your other half; it was almost as if he was there with you right now.

You were worried when he gave you brief glances since his eyes were off the road, but as he spoke, you felt protected because he spoke highly of your brother.

“Well, I'm not sure if he mentioned you, but the last song we were working on was one he wrote for you, and he said it was a gift.” As you turned to face him after hearing that final statement, your eyes widened.

“He—he said those exact words, a gift?”

As he rounded the corner and approached your apartment complex building, he shook his head. You could see his shoulder resting on the window sill as he put the car in park.

You hesitantly walk out of the car, stuttering as you gather your belongings, and turn to face him.

“Thank you for the ride; did Lucas mention anything else about the song?” “He wasn't quite finished with it, but he did give me and my other friend some crucial stuff to get it done,” he said as you pressed your face closer to the window.

Your heart began to race as you realized that things were beginning to turn around for you; perhaps this wonwoo boy was destined to be in your life. Lucas' way of demonstrating that he took great care of you.

“Would you like to work on it together sometime?”

Inside, it felt as if the creatures were finally waking up from their rehabilitation and making their way into the real world. Even if it took a while, this new form of relief made you feel alive again. You were adamant about working more to reclaim your color.

In some way, wonwoo was the key to it all.

“Yes, a hundred times yes,” you answered, smiling like a kid in a candy store as you handed him your phone. “Just let me know when you're free.”

Wonwoo returned your phone to you, which you joyfully accepted and placed in your pocket. As you walked to your door, you waved your hand at him and cried out to him one final time.

“Thank you”

“For what?” As you entered the flat and locked the door behind you, you waved your hand at him. You let out a sigh and shake your head as you slid down to the floor.

“What a day”

---

(4 weeks later)

It seemed like you and wonwoo had entered a very unique connection in the last few weeks. He made every effort not to cross any boundaries, both physically and emotionally. Regardless of the fact that you were his closest friend's sister, he was always respectful to you.

Even if that is what he sees from his perspective, you felt more alive when you were with him. Although you could still see gray and couldn't bask in all of his glory, it gave you hope that one day, whenever that time came, you'd be able to see him and everything else.

That was something you lacked previously: hope. Everyone around you including your parents could see a significant change in your life.

“Hey, honey, how's it going at work?” Before taking your purse, your mother kissed your cheek and opened the door for you.

As you met her at your old house, a smile emerged on your face. It was your first visit home in a while, and seeing you there brought joy to their hearts, despite the difficult years you've had.

“Everything has been going well, and I just wanted to drop by and see how you're doing. I miss seeing you and dad.”

“Is that my beautiful daughter, am I seeing things right?” your father exclaimed as he emerged from the back. As a tear trickled down your cheek, you watched as he raced over to you and hugged you.

As he stared at your face and admired it, the hue in front of you remained gray.

“Such lovely brown eyes," It pained your soul that you couldn't remember what they looked like since gray dulled everything and made you forget.

“Thank you, dad, but instead of fawning me, let's play some games. Just because life is bleak doesn't mean I can't be your ass at Monopoly.”

Your mother, gasping at your remark, watched from the back, her eyes welling up with tears as she marveled at a sight she hadn't seen in a long time.

“Moooom, don't start sobbing or dad will start crying,” you said as you turned around.

She comes over to your side and wraps you and your father in a hug, sandwiching you between them. It felt good because you were missing these times with your folks. You couldn't stay at home when your brother died; you had to leave and get away. Everything was just too much for you as things started to remind you of him.

You couldn’t take it anymore.

“I'm really proud of you for coming here and having the confidence to do so. I understand how difficult it must be for you, but thank you.” Through the loud sniffles between you all, you started to feel warm as you wiped your tears.

“All right, no more crying; let's get down to business.” You dashed over to the couch and snatched up Monopoly from the board game box, motioning for them to join you. They chuckled as you began to pull everything out as they made their way over.

As loud yells and laughter echoed out throughout the home, the night was fresh and enjoyable. There were times when you were terrified you'd lose, but you couldn't let your champion status lapse.

Your mother said, "Noo, you're cheating."

“No, I'm not; there's a house there, and you need to pay up or I'll put you in jail.” Between the two, your father snickers and keeps his mouth shut. He was well aware of the rules.

“All right, but that wasn't there before.”

With a chuckle, you shook your head and held out your hand, saying, "excuses excuses."

As you turned off your alarm, it rang at 8:00 p.m. You wouldn't have realized the difference between night and day if it hadn't been for alarm clocks. You jumped up in triumph after placing one more piece on the board.

“And that's why I remain Monopoly's ruler.”

You witnessed your parents give up as they lifted their hands in surrender. They both remark, "Fine, you win," as they begin to clean up the mess. Taking the stray cups and bowls from the tables you set them in the sink as you turned to watch your parents.

It's been a long time since you've been back here, and you've certainly missed the atmosphere. Lucas wouldn't want me to miss out on this opportunity.

“Why don't I come on weekends and bring back board game nights?” As your parents turned back, you uttered, "Next time, I'll bring a friend."

“Oh, it would be wonderful; the more the better.”

As you walked back over to them, you hugged them as they kissed your head.

“You go, we'll take care of this; the drive back is long,” your father remarked as he took your bag and handed it to you.

“Thank you guys, and I love you and the night we just had.” As you approached the door, you waved goodbye before closing it.

“No thank you, love,” your mother said as she and your father watched you leave the home and get into your car.

After one last look at the house, you back out of the driveway and go down the street, looking forward to the day ahead.

Studio day!

You yawn as your body startles you up after taking a deep breath of fresh air. As you slowly open your eyes and look out the window, you breathe a sigh of relief. Something felt different. The chirping of the birds outside made you feel cheerful, not sad.

As your vision remained a little lighter, you began to blink your eyes faster. It wasn't your typical gray morning, and you thought it was growing lighter. The gray was gradually dissipating. You grinned as you considered your color returning.

What prompted this?

It didn't matter because today was dedicated to finishing your song; you, wonwoo, and his friend Mingyu had completed all but the title. You stretch one more time before heading to the bathroom to get ready for the day.

When you get to the mirror, you take a look at yourself. The person in front of you had radically transformed; she had forgotten about her flaws and insecurities, and her heart now held more love. This woman didn't pick apart everything that was wrong with her; instead, she supported herself.

She was unrecognizable, and the old girl in the mirror was finally slipping away. You began to smile more frequently and laugh a little more, and the air around you became warmer rather than frigid. Someone's love had seeped into her heart and begun to unfreeze its hardness.

And that person was wonwoo, which you didn't realize until you looked in the mirror. If you've observed it, chances are that others have as well. And you were grateful for his help in getting you out of that gloomy situation. You were able to regain your trust and begin letting people in again, which made you pleased.

Lucas would be incredibly proud of you, and you didn't want to disappoint him again. You intended to honor his memory and keep him alive in your heart, rather than allowing the past to plague you and prevent you from living your life.

He would have wanted that.

As you stepped inside, you turned on the shower and stripped off your clothing. You had to find a method to repay wonwoo for his compassion. You would not have gotten this far without him and his musical gift, and you were grateful for him.

"I could take him to our place," you offer as you turn off the water and grab a towel from the shower.

“Yeah he would like that.”

----

Work seemed to fly by as your mind raced at a hundred miles per hour. You had everything planned out and had recruited the support of your parents to help you set up.

Your manager tapped your shoulder and asked, "Hey y/n, you okay?" As you dropped the pencil, you flinched.

“Oh sorry, just spacing out.” He shook his head as he spoke out, “For the rest of your shift you can take off if you want, we’re going to close earlier than usual. If you're leaving, clean out the coffee machine and be on your way.”

You enlarged your eyes as your jaw dropped, and you raced into his arms, squeezing him tightly. Your boss chuckled awkwardly as he gently pushed you away from him. For some reason, everything seemed to be working in your favor today. As you rush to get ready, you begin working on the machine, your smile never leaving your face.

You sped to the back room, clocking out and placing your apron into your locker, as you were done in no time. As you walked to the front, you waved goodbye to your manager before heading to your car in the parking area.

“What's the matter with her? That's the first time I've ever seen her that happy. Hmm”

And with that you were on your way to your parents house as you sent a quick text to wonwoo. As you grinned as you placed your phone in the dash holder, you came to a stop light.

You: Hey cancel today's session, I have a place to go to. It may also provide us with better title recommendations. You down??

Wonwoo:) Yes, that sounds excellent; the studio can become claustrophobic. Send me the address and a time frame for my arrival.

You: *address name*. Bring your guitar and meet there in 2 hours.

Wonwoo:) Oh okay. Can’t wait to see you there!

(read 5:45 p.m.)

Even though you weren’t nervous you wanted everything to be special, wonwoo deserved it for all that he has done for you in the past weeks.

You let yourself go as you blast songs down the road, pressing play on your playlist. You didn't notice it at first, but the color was gently sneaking in as you drove around. As creams and beige colors drifted in and out, the outsides of your eyes began to lift.

As you turned off the headlights and opened the door, it didn't take long for you to arrive at your destination. You smiled as you got your belongings from the car and made your way up the hill, finding your parents already set up.

You drop your belongings on the blanket and walk up to hug them, saying, "Hey guys." As they begin to chat with you, they embrace you in a friendly hug.

“So we set up all of the essential elements, such as lighting, a seating area, and refreshments in the cooler and basket.” As she began to indicate the various components, your mother explained. As she brought you around the hill to the tree, she took your hand in hers.

“You remember when you and Lucas did this?” You laugh as you remember that day as you place your palm on the antique carving.

-- “Noo I'd like to go first; you always go first.” You sighed as Lucas took up the knife and began carving his name into the tree.

“You better not cry and tell mom,” he remarked, turning to face you and seeing your glum demeanor. As you passed past him, you stood up straighter, rolling your eyes at him and snatching the knife from his grip.

“I'm not a baby like you,” you say. As he huffed and hurried toward mom, you heard him scoff.

“Mommmm y/n referring to me as a baby. And I'm not one of them. You stood there watching as he stomped his foot and landed on Mom's lap. Your father chuckles, rubbing his back and shaking his head at his wife.

As you return to the blanket, you cross your arms and say, "Well, then, quit acting like one."

That erupted in an outburst as he started to whine on mommy lap.

He did, in fact, act like a baby. Wiping a tear from your eyes as you chuckle, you hold your mother closer as you kiss her on the forehead.

“Hey we have an hour left before wonwoo get here, I'm going to head to the house to clean up. If he arrives early, keep him entertained.” As she watches you descend the hill, your mother shakes her head.

As you pull out of the parking lot, you put your foot down on the accelerator and drive over to your parents' house.

(45 minutes later)

Wonwoo approaches the destination, looking out the windshield as he spots some lights on the hill. As he steps out of the automobile, he notices two people moving around. He smiles as he collects his guitar from the rear and walks up the hill, noting the serene atmosphere.

“Those should go over by the tree and make sure they don't fall.” Wonwoo enters the place, his eyes widening. Fluorescent bulbs fanned out along the tops of the trees, each with a different picture on it, surrounding him.

As he looks down, he notices a blanket with a speaker playing music and the champagne.

Your parents finally turn around, gasping, when your mother rushes over to welcome him, saying, "Forgive us, we didn't hear anything, you must be wonwoo." That's y/n father over there, and I'm y/n mother.” As she introduces you to your father, she smiles and gives you a motherly look.

On this magnificent evening, only a few minutes had passed when you approached the hill once more. You take a brief glance in the mirror before applying some Chapstick. Rubbing it in you open the door as you look up on the hill, you hear conversations as you panic up the hill.

“So this is y/n, she was quite the messy twin when she was a baby-”

“What are you doing, Mom?” You walk over to her, ashamed, and place yourself between you and wonwoo, speaking quietly to her.

“I said to entertain him not embarrass me.”

“Oh, you're overthinking things; did you know he's friends with Lucas?” You chuckle as you grab your father and mother and begin bickering as you force them out of the location. As they descend the slope, they wave goodbye to you and wonwoo.

Taking one look at him, you notice his amusing state; he was cheesing so hard that his rosy cheeks were visible.

“Sorry about them.”

“It's fine; all parents do it.” They simply adore you.” You cross your legs and shake your head as you sit on the blanket, passing him a wine cup.

“To another wonderful day and a wonderful friendship.” Wonwoo takes out the champagne from the cooler as he opens it and sprays the excess in front of you.

“Ahh, you're spilling it” As you giggle at his action, the extra juice pours on your face. You reach for a napkin to wipe the wetness off your face as he takes one in front of you.

“Here, let me take care of it.” He leans in closer as he wipes the liquid from your face before resuming his seat. As your stomach begins to become a #1 gymnast, that simple action sends you spiraling.

“Th-thanks”

He smiles as he pours you a drink for both of you, and as he does so, you grab his guitar box and pry it open, admiring the golden beauty inside. Picking it up, you begin strumming a few chords of the nameless song while moving your head to the beat.

“Wow, you're actually pretty good.”

“I did have a good teacher, Lucas taught me a few things, but I only recall a few chords, so it may become irritating after a while.”

Wonwoo hands you the glass as you take it in your hand, and as you take a sip of the bubbly drink, you hand him the guitar.

As you take another sip, your spirits lift as you stare out at the scenery in front of you. You hear wonwoo begin to play the tune while you stare off towards the colorless world.

“Ruinous imagination consumes me. Makes me dream sweeter dreams, I close my eyes but thoughts of you. Bring noisy night, to you & me, real and dreamy.”

You sway back and forth as his voice soothes your body, his palm brushing over the guitar while his eyelids close, taking in the lyrics.

As you look up at him, you say, "Thank you." It's unavoidable, but tears stream down your face with no attempt to wipe them away.

“Th-thank you foreverythingyouhave-“ you say quickly and brokenly.

“Hey hey, calm down, I can't understand what you're saying,” he says as he scoots over to you and pats your shoulder. You both laugh as you start over, this time with more poise.

“I wanted to express my gratitude to you for genuinely improving my life. You probably don't know, but my relationship with Lucas was incredible; we were never apart, and when he passed, I couldn't live without him. I've struck rock bottom a few times and done some unfathomable things that I'm ashamed of, and I'm sincerely grateful that I've survived another day.”

Wonwoo drew you into a hug and caressed your back as he ceased patting your shoulder. As you sob into his shoulder, the tears begin to flow again.

“Sorry for interrupting, but it seemed like you needed one,” he says as you continue, releasing leave of you.

“To put it simply, you have brought me so much joy and optimism that I am overwhelmed. It's not the same without Lucas, but I'm grateful you entered my life at this point. So thank you; I don't know how to express my gratitude.”

You come to a halt as he looks at you through his round spectacles, and as you become concerned, you begin to look down.

“Sorry if I just spewed all that out.”

“No, it's fine.” I truly appreciate it, and I'm glad I was able to restore a sense of hope in your life. I may not be Lucas, but I will do my best to pay tribute to his memory.

You smile as you feel a wave of self-assurance and an overpowering sensation of bravery wash over you.

When you bring wonwoo closer to you and kiss him on the lips, everything inside of you turns on, and your body begins to feel alive again, exactly like it did before.

“I'm sorry I should have asked you first-“ You release him and lean back as you watch him.

He silenced your words with his lips as his hands wrapped around your neck.

Everything comes rushing back to you in an instant, like a blanket being pulled off of you. As you open your eyes again, you let go of each other. The difference this time is that you can see him.

As he smiled at you, you could see his cheeks flush with scarlet. You can see his silver rings around his slender fingers as his hands slip away from your neck.

You slowly turn around to face the sinking light on the horizon. As if a million scarlet petals have ignited, the sunset blooms on the horizon.

You expected the tears to flow this time as you stood up and walked closer to the cliff's edge. As you stared at the gorgeous view in front of you, you undoubtedly looked a mess.

You collapse to your knees and exclaim, "I can see it!"

Wonwoo approaches you slowly, bending down with you and holding you in his arms.

“See what?”

As you held him again, your snot-filled tear-streaked face turned to his.

“The color has returned, and I can see it now.” As he gasps, he pulls you back.

“Wait, are you serious, what color shirt am I wearing?”

“IT'S GREEN, YOUR SHIRT IS GREEN!!” Wonwoo scoops you up and spins you again in an instant. You lay another kiss on his lips as you chuckle into his lips, unsure of what to do.

The clouds floated into my life, not to bring rain or storms, but to add color to the sunset sky.

He picks up the polaroid camera off the ground and takes a candid shot of you. After he pecked your cheek once more, he smiled as he wanted to remember this special day.

You send wonwoo off to find a knife from the basket as the photo develops. You observe him as he runs around the area like a child, and you smile as the photo develops.

You've probably seen images where the background is blurred and the only thing in focus is the subject of the photograph. That was us. Every other detail became hazy as I concentrated on every facet of him.

You didn't realize how fortunate you were until now; he was the special someone you had wished for eons ago.

Everything felt even better when your color returned, and you knew deep down that everything was going to be well.

It was all because of wonwoo.

Your brother left you a gift, the lovely gift of music, which was seen via wonwoo.

Yes, your brother had been your best friend, and yes, he had left you. But, as you found a great friend, the life he presumably wanted for you had only just begun.

You hoped that with him, you would be able to treasure the love you had just as much as you did while you were together.

“Hey, wonwoo, I have a song title, also follow me.”

As he began heading toward you, he turned around and looked at you. You've both arrived at the same tree that was planted many years ago.

He gives you the knife as you start placing your name under your past self. As he watches you cry, Wonwoo does the same.

*Forever, Y/n, Wonwoo, and Lucas*

As he finishes up, you grab his hand and stroll back to the blanket setup. He takes a seat beside you and wraps his arm over your body.

“So, what are your thoughts?”

“Bittersweet, that's the title,” you said as you turned to face him.

“I love it,” he says as he pulls you closer to him with a nod of his head.

And with that, your brother's memory was carefully preserved, shared, and intended for all to hear.

“Lucas, I'll never forget you.”

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 　　 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

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